Gleb Savchenko has addressed Maura Higgins' refusal to be his Dancing With The Stars partner. The Love Island star cited her bond with Brooks Nader and Savchenko's past remarks as her motivation.

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The 2024 romance and the messy split with Brooks Nader

The tension between Gleb Savchenko and Maura Higgins is deeply rooted in the professional and personal history of the 42-year-old Russian dancer . During the 2024 season of Dancing With The Stars, Savchenko and Brooks Nader formed a romantic connection that was described as both intense and volatile. According to reports from US Weekly,the relationship became a source of concern for Nader's family and friends, with insiders claiming Savchenko spent excessive time at her home.

The pair eventually ended their relationship in April of last year, a split that Savchenko reportedly only learned about through published news articles. This history of personal volatility provides the backdrop for the current friction between the professional dancer and the high-profile celebrities involved in the upcoming season.

Maura Higgins' E!News ultimatum and the Chmerkovskiy preference

Maura Higgins, the 35-year-old former Love Island star, has made her stance on the upcoming season very clear. In an interview with E!News on Monday, Higgins stated she would be willing to partner with anyone except Savchenko, citing her loyalty to her close friend Brooks Nader. Higgins also criticized Savchenko's conduct, suggesting his comments about women make him an unsuitable partner.

To further signal her preference, Higgins teased a video of herself dancing with fellow professional Valentin Chmerkovskiy. This move suggests that Higgins is not merely looking to avoid Savchenko, but is actively signaling which types of professional dynamics she finds more acceptable for the competition.

Savchenko’s Daily Mail rebuttal against a "stranger"

Gleb Savchenko has responded to these accusations by dismissing the Love Island star as someone he does not know. In a statement to the Daily Mail, Savchenko claimed he had never heard of Higgins before the controversy surfaced and suggested her public comments were a tactic to generate headlines before the season begins.

While he did not directly address the specific allegations regarding his remarks about women, the 42-year-old dancer insisted he would not "lose sleep" over the opinion of a stranger. He emphasized that his focus remains entirely on his professional work rather than the surrounding drama, attempting to distance himself from the personal nature of the dispute.

Will the producers side with Maura Higgins or Gleb Savchenko?

Several questions remain regarding how the Dancing With The Stars production team will handle this public dispute. It is currently unknown whether the producers will attempt to facilitate a pairing that satisfies Higgins' request to avoid Savchenko, or if the casting will proceed regardless of her stated disapproval. Additionally, the source does not confirm if Savchenko will face any repercussions for the "crude remarks" about his past relationship that sparked Higgins' criticism.

While the source presents Higgins' perspective on Savchenko's character,it remains to be seen how the dancer's camp will formally address the specific claims regarding his comments about women. The resolution of this conflict will likely set the tone for the social atmosphere of the new season.