DWTS’ Val Chmerkovskiy Says Next Pro’s AJ Pritchard Has “Arrogance”

Val Chmerkovskiy isn’t sashaying away from offering criticism.

In fact, the Dancing With the Stars pro had plenty of candid thoughts to share with Danielle Fishel as they recapped episode two of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.

Chmerkovskiy admitted that he was slightly put-off by some of the contestants vying to be a pro on season 35 of DWTS. At one point, he called out AJ Pritchard, who previously appeared as a professional dancer on the BBC One dance competition Strictly Come Dancing, for allegedly acting arrogant while competing with partner Selena Hamilton on The Next Pro.

“It makes good TV at his expense. I guess that’s how I want to say it,” Chmerkovskiy shared on the July 21 episode of his and Fishel’s Stepping on Toes podcast. “I wish he wrapped that arrogance into a little softer presentation.”

The 40-year-old added, “I understand if he’s coming in with this feeling of like—I’m not gonna say entitlement, I don’t want to use that word. But if he comes in with not a chip on his shoulder, but kind of like, ‘What am I even doing here? Why do I have to go through this process if I already know I’m good enough and I already did this.’ I can appreciate that, but dude, then don’t sign up for the show.”