Dancing With the Stars' Louis van Amstel Clarifies He Did Not Body Shame Costar Lacey Schwimmer
Dancing With the Stars' Louis van Amstel vehemently denies body-shaming allegations made against him by his costars Lacey Schwimmer and Cheryl Burke, firmly stating his commitment to never engage in such behavior
Louis van Amstel is addressing the allegations of body shaming towards his former Dancing With the Stars costar Lacey Schwimmer. In an Instagram video posted on October 31st, the 50-year-old stated that he never made any comments about Lacey or Cheryl Burke's weight. He expressed sympathy for how they were made to feel by a TV Guide article but asserted that he never said anything about their weight, emphasizing the importance of his family's health.
The Dutch-American dancer, who last participated in season 31 of DWTS in 2022, expressed admiration for Cheryl Burke. While van Amstel admitted to not having a strong connection with Schwimmer, 35, he firmly stated that he would never criticize her body. Schwimmer, who made appearances on DWTS from seasons 7 through 13, sparked controversy on October 30th when she recalled a 2008 TV Guide interview in which van Amstel and Maksim Chmerkovskiy criticized both her and Burke, 39, for their physical appearances.
"At the age of 19, filled with excitement for this new venture and the prospect of being recognized for my lifelong dedication, the heartbreaking words of those I admired shattered my spirit," she confessed on Burke's "Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans" podcast episode. "The impact was devastating, as I recall sobbing uncontrollably."
Chmerkovskiy, at 43, confessed in a 2008 interview, "Upon seeing these women for the first time this season, I advised, 'Please remember that the camera adds 10 pounds. It's essential to address this.'"
Van Amstel, on his end, informed the outlet, "Individuals seek inspiration from this show and believe that if they work diligently enough, they can achieve a similar appearance. If they witness someone who dances tirelessly but still remains overweight, it may discourage them. It is crucial to acknowledge this responsibility."
On Tuesday, van Amstel contended that the quotes from 2008 were misrepresented. In his video, he claimed that the TV Guide writer had already apologized to him in the past for distorting his words.
Content Despite his insistence that he never made any comments about Schwimmer or Burke's bodies while they were working together, van Amstel expressed remorse for being a part of something that caused her pain, particularly apologizing to Schwimmer. On camera, van Amstel extended his apology to Schwimmer, acknowledging that she was made to feel bad by a certain incident, clarifying that he never uttered those words. He emphasized his utmost respect for her as a dancer and praised her performance on Dancing With the Stars. He concluded by affirming that he would have taken responsibility if he had indeed said those words.
Louis Van Amstel and Lacey Schwimmer, 2010. Chelsea Lauren/WireImage/Getty Images
Moving forward, he emphasized his commitment to honoring the bodies and emotions of all dancers. "To those who have ever felt ashamed of their bodies, I want you to know that I would always be there to support you," he affirmed. "My entire company is built on the foundation of assisting others and instilling self-confidence." The ex-reality TV personality concluded by reiterating his previous statement: "Once again, I want to emphasize that I did not make any comments about Lacey or Cheryl's weight. Thank you."
Schwimmer, on Burke's podcast, expressed that she does not blame Chmerkovskiy or van Amstel for the comments made in 2008. Instead, she attributed her insecurity about her body shape to the culture of DWTS.
"In my personal opinion, Dancing With the Stars contributes to body image problems for women," she explained to Burke. "We are required to wear revealing outfits and stand next to naturally thin girls, which forces us to take drastic measures."
Schwimmer, who joined DWTS at the age of 19, admitted to using diet pills during her time on the show. She believed that being thinner would garner more attention, and as a result, she went from a size 6 to a size 2. Schwimmer claimed that only after reaching a weight of 115 pounds did she start getting opportunities for photoshoots and special performances on DWTS.
We previously reached out to ABC for comment.
