Corey Feldman is criticizing the off-camera culture he says he faced while competing on Dancing With the Stars, describing the environment away from the ballroom as harsh and rumor-driven. In audio from an episode of the Gurvey’s Law radio show airing November 23, Feldman said rehearsals and the televised production itself felt supportive, but he was shocked by what he called constant backstage gossip and public mudslinging that followed once the show went live.
Feldman, 54, joined season 34 in September and was paired with professional dancer Jenna Johnson. The duo was eliminated during week two. Soon after the cast announcement, online chatter built around claims that Feldman had missed rehearsals and that Johnson was struggling with the partnership. Feldman has repeatedly pushed back on that narrative, saying he trained every day for weeks and that the two worked well together.
On the radio show, Feldman said he began seeing headlines suggesting cast feuds, complaints about effort levels, and accusations that he was “difficult to work with.” He singled out remarks tied to Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Johnson’s brother-in-law and a former pro on the series, who had told a tabloid earlier in the season that Johnson faced an “uphill climb” with Feldman. Feldman said he asked Johnson about the comments and recalled her brushing them off as attention-seeking.
Johnson has not publicly echoed Feldman’s critique. After their exit she posted a warm message thanking him for their short run, and Feldman replied with his own note of gratitude, apologizing for any negativity surrounding them and praising her professionalism.
The actor’s DWTS stint was already framed by personal stakes. During the season premiere he spoke about living with scoliosis and said the training was helping his posture, even as judges scored the routine low and the studio audience reacted loudly. ABC has not commented on Feldman’s claims.
