Val Chmerkovsky has some thoughts on mixing competition and fun on Dancing with the stars.

During an appearance on theLightweight Podcast“, the three-time winner told the host Joe Vulpis that he no longer finds it entirely appropriate for famous contestants to have relationships with their professional partners on the show.

“A long time ago, in my first two seasons, I was given partners that I had romantic exchanges with – which was incredibly unprofessional in my opinion,” he said in the December 3 episode of the series. “Because I’m here as a teacher and a partner, and I’m probably, in one way or another, in a position of authority over them. Like, don’t do that where you’re eating, that sort of thing comes into play.”

He added: “Behind closed doors I undermined my own season by doing this. »

In addition to his wife, Jenna Johnsonwhom he met on the show when she joined the cast in 2014, Chmerkovskiy, 38, has also been linked to his season 19 partner, Janel Parrishand candidate of season 23 Amber Rose. He and Johnson married in 2019 and had son Rome in 2023.

Chmerkovskiy added that he did not think he was responsible for allowing a love affair to interfere with the competition of DWTS.

“I am very serious about my work and my profession,” he said. “And so to have allowed myself to be involved during…now after this season, it’s different. We are both adults, we are not at work. But during the season I sometimes felt like it was a little irresponsible.

Chmerkovskiy then acknowledged that other couples are free to take a different point of view and pursue something — as long as it’s authentic. “But when it’s two adults putting on a show,” he said, “because they know they can manipulate the algorithm to give them more likes, more views and more, I don’t I just don’t like anything inauthentic.”

Related: Every time the ‘DWTS’ costars defended their chemistry on stage

Many Dancing With the Stars contestants have such a palpable connection on the dance floor that fans start to wonder if those connections extend to real life. “We get along really well and have great chemistry, which made this dance so much easier,” Emma Slater told Us Weekly in September 2022 after DWTS host Alfonso (…)

He also admitted that the on-screen romances made for “a really great show.”

The evolution of social media played a role in Chmerkovskiy’s shift in tone.

“Social media wasn’t as vibrant as it is now,” he said of his early career. DWTS run. “It was just tabloids and stuff like that. But now social media has really upped the game.”

Chmerkovskiy added that, as important as chemistry is, Dancing with the starsan overtly sexual element is not always necessary. He highlighted Johnson’s partnership with Bachelor alum Joey Graziadei. Both men won the Mirrorball Trophy in win season 33 last month.

“Chemistry doesn’t always have to have a sexual essence behind it,” he said. “Chemistry is camaraderie. Chemistry is compatibility. Chemistry is friendship. When you trust someone, you open yourself up to someone.