Unforgettable Trainwrecks on 'Dancing With the Stars': The Most Disastrous Celeb Pairings!
Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Jesse Metcalfe, and Hannah Brown have faced their fair share of disastrous partnerships on 'Dancing With the Stars' Find out which stars struggled to impress the judges and left fans disappointed with their performances
Over the years, Dancing With the Stars has seen some amazing pairs, although not all have been the perfect match. In 2008, Kim Kardashian joined the 7th season of the show with her pro partner, Mark Ballas. Despite her success in other areas, the reality TV star finished in 11th place during her time on DWTS.
A decade later, fellow alum Milo Manheim remembered a conversation he had with Kardashian about her time on DWTS. He told Entertainment Tonight in October 2018 that she said, “Milo, it’s the worst! Like, you get injured, you feel like an idiot.” Cheryl Burke named Ian Ziering as her “least favorite partner” and claimed on the “Allegedly” podcast in 2016 that he "made [her] want to slit [her] wrists," and she frequently cried to the show executives.
Deal of the Day
Serious Skincare’s Wildly Popular Glycolic Acid Cleanser Is on Sale Today
View Deal
Below are some of the most poorly matched pairs in Dancing With the Stars history.
Credit: ABC/KELSEY MCNEAL
Most Disastrous 'Dancing With the Stars' Partners Ever!
Dancing With the Stars has featured some incredible partners over the years, but not all teams were perfectly matched.
In 2008, Kim Kardashian appeared on the 7th season of the dance series with her partner, Mark Ballas. Despite her success in other areas, she finished in 11th place on DWTS. A decade later, fellow alum Milo Manheim shared a conversation he had with Kardashian about her experience on the show. "She doesn't enjoy dancing as much as I do," he said in October 2018. "She told me, 'Milo, it's the worst! Like, you get injured, you feel like an idiot.' That was her advice to me."
Cheryl Burke mentioned Ian Ziering as her "least favorite partner," stating that he made her feel extremely distressed during their time together on the show. She expressed regret for the comments, acknowledging that they were hurtful and apologized for the pain they caused.
Scroll down to see some of the worst Dancing With the Stars pairings over the years.
Credit: Courtesy of Sharna Burgess/Instagram
Jesse Metcalfe and Sharna Burgess
In September 2023, Burgess revealed on her "Oldish" podcast that her partnership during the 29th season was "extremely challenging." She stated that due to unspecified incidents, she could not be alone in a room with her partner after the initial weeks. This led to a rocky partnership and their quick elimination from the show. Burgess did not mention the actor by name.
A representative for Metcalfe immediately denied the accusations, stating that "If she is referring to a time where our client Jesse Metcalfe worked with Ms. Burgess four years ago, the only recollection was that they didn’t get along," the spokesperson told TVLine. "Vague insinuations are not only reckless but also irrelevant."
Credit: Eric McCandless/ABC
Hannah Brown and Alan Bersten
During season 28, the former Bachelorette candidly discussed the challenges she faced with Bersten. In her book, God Bless This Mess, she revealed, "Alan kept saying, 'You have to trust me if we're going to do this.' But trust was the last thing I was prepared to give a man I'd just met." Despite this, she gradually came to trust Alan as a dance partner, leading to improved performances on stage. The chemistry between them during performances led to speculation from the press about a potential romantic relationship, but off the dance floor, they were incompatible.
"Working with someone you've only just met can be intense. Alan and I had the most volatile relationship of the season. It was a constant shift between acting like best friends and true partners, or not being able to stand each other. There were moments in rehearsal where he'd push me too far, and I'd react by telling him to get out of my face. I'd say, 'I'm not doing this,' and he'd retort, 'You're lazy! You're not trying!'"
Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless
Sean Spicer and Lindsay Arnold
During the show's 28th season, the former White House press secretary faced backlash from both viewers and judges due to his lack of dancing skills. However, the controversial contestant still managed to finish the season in 6th place.
Spicer went on to commend Arnold for pushing him to improve. "If you saw where I started, and what this woman has done to get me to where I am today, it's nothing short of a miracle," he stated in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2019. "This entire journey has been about breaking out of my comfort zone."
Credit: ABC/KELSEY MCNEAL
Kim Kardashian and Mark Ballas
Oh, the potential for Kimojis! The author of Selfish struggled to keep up with the beat during season 7 in 2008. She would later poke fun at her lackluster dancing skills in an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. In a 2015 interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Ballas revealed insights about their partnership. "She wasn't the most skilled dancing partner. I adore her, she's amazing, and we became good friends," he shared. "Dancing wasn't her forte, but she's a fantastic person."
Credit: ABC/ADAM LARKEY
Kate Gosselin and Tony Dovolani
Farewell, Gosselin! The reality TV personality's constant complaining reached a breaking point during season 10 in 2010, leading to Dovolani threatening to walk out. "You're not understanding how I process things!" she exclaimed during a practice session in one episode. He then removed his microphone pack and declared, "I'm finished, I'm done for today. I'm quitting!"
Credit: Bbc America/Abc-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
Ian Ziering and Cheryl Burke
9021 ... oh, no! The professional dancer confessed in April 2016 that her least favorite partner was the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum. She expressed regret for her insensitive remark, acknowledging that it seemed to make light of suicide. Ziering did not directly respond to the comment.
Credit: Chris Pizzello/AP/Shutterstock
David Hasselhoff and Kym Johnson
The behavior of a diva? According to a show insider who spoke exclusively to Us, the Baywatch alum "was a mess" during season 11 in 2010. The insider disclosed, "His people would call staffers 20 times a day, changing rehearsal times, canceling shoots and even suggesting things like camera angles and poses." The source also revealed that "At first, Kym thought getting Hoff as a partner was quite a coup, but then quickly realized it was a mistake. She is so disappointed!"
Credit: ABC/Adam Taylor
Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Wow! The collaboration between the professional soccer player and Chmerkovskiy was possibly the most tumultuous in the history of DWTS when they were paired up in season 13 in 2011. A year later, Solo alleged in her book, Solo: A Memoir of Hope, that the Ukrainian dancer had slapped her on the face and stomach during a rehearsal. He denied the accusations.
Credit: Shutterstock
Nancy Grace and Tristan MacManus
The seasoned journalist's performance in season 13 of 2011 was less than elegant. She often struggled through her dance numbers, and there was a moment where she appeared to have a wardrobe malfunction on live TV, although she denied it. "We have taken every precaution known to man in this dress right here. I'm talking industrial-size precaution," she told We. "There may have been, as Tristan said, a little bit of jiggling."
Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin
Mischa Barton and Artem Chigvintsev
The former star of The O.C. frequently expressed frustration and lashed out at Chigvintsev during the 2016 season 22. "I was counting on you to make this a positive experience," she stated during a heated exchange. "I can't handle another week of this," she confessed to the cameras. "He just doesn't understand, and it's incredibly difficult for me."
Credit: Kelsey McNeal/ABC via Getty Images
Jaleel White and Kym Johnson
Urkel is not tolerating it. In an exclusive report in April 2012, it was revealed that the Family Matters star scolded Johnson during a season 14 rehearsal. Following an accidental step on her foot, the former child star berated her, "got in her face," and called her an idiot, according to a source for Us. Pro dancer Mark Ballas had to step in, and White commented, "You remind me of that annoying sitcom neighbor who gets into everyone's business!"
Credit: Adam Taylor/ABC via Getty Images
Sean Avery and Karina Smirnoff
Was he let go? The ex-New York Rangers hockey player alleged that he was pushed out of season 18 in 2014, after he expressed dissatisfaction with a negative video segment that the show broadcasted featuring him. "If you clash with the producers, then usually that determines your outcome quite early on," he explained on Good Morning America.
Credit: BDG/Shutterstock
Michael Bolton and Chelsie Hightower
Bolton vs. Bruno! The singer's performance in season 11 of 2010 received exceptionally low scores. The situation took a turn for the worse when judge Bruno Tonioli described his jive performance as "the worst" he had ever witnessed. Bolton expressed his disappointment on Good Morning America, stating, "I think he should apologize publicly, and he should be reprimanded for it," adding, "I was disappointed with Bruno — to me, he let everybody down."
Credit: Mediapunch/Shutterstock
Geraldo Rivera and Edyta Sliwinska
Wait, is he for real? The experienced journalist frequently elicited cringes from the audience with his clumsy dance moves during the 2016 season 22. One week, viewers were especially shocked when he sported an orange tan to mock Donald Trump, his previous Celebrity Apprentice boss.
Credit: ABC/Adam Taylor
Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
The dynamic between the two took a turn for the worse following their joint performance in 2011's season 12. When asked by a fan during Watch What Happens Live about being influenced by Scientology, Chmerkovskiy revealed that they had grown apart. "She stopped getting along with me. I have the utmost respect for her. I don't judge people based on their religious beliefs. I am of Jewish faith and don't really buy into science fiction, etc.," he expressed in July 2014. "I had believed we had a strong bond."
Credit: BDG/Shutterstock
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and Karina Smirnoff
No celebratory gestures were made. Following the disappointing scores for his tango performance in season 11 of 2010, the former Jersey Shore cast member caused a commotion. "I was upset. I actually stormed off upset because I tried so hard. I really did. I changed my haircut, I don't know," he told Us at the time. "Once I landed all those lifts and the judges were trashing me? I'll be honest with you, it was in one ear and out the other."
