Gleb Savchenko has fired back after Maura Higgins said she would prefer almost any other professional partner on Dancing with the Stars. Her comments created tension before Season 35 even reached the ballroom. The disagreement centers on Maura’s friendship with Brooks Nader, who previously dated Gleb.
Gleb Savchenko hit back after Maura Higgins reportedly ruled out partnering with him on DWTS
In an interview with The Sun, Gleb dismissed Maura’s criticism. “Until I was asked to comment on this story, I’d genuinely never heard of this girl, Maura, so I’m certainly not going to lose any sleep over the opinions of someone I’ve never met,” he said. Gleb also questioned why Maura had criticized him before they met. He said he planned to focus on the competition and leave the “unnecessary drama” to others.
Maura made her position clear during an interview with E! News. “I’d be happy with anyone except Gleb,” she said. The former Love Island UK star explained that she was loyal to Brooks and added, “I don’t really like the way he speaks about women.”
Gleb and Brooks began dating after producers paired them on Season 33 of DWTS. Their relationship later ended amid cheating allegations, which Gleb denied, and a series of increasingly personal public exchanges.
The tension escalated when Gleb made blunt claims about his past relationship with Brooks during Unwell Winter Games. He described their intimate relationship in harsh terms and warned other DWTS professionals against dating their celebrity partners.
Maura’s remarks had already raised concerns about an awkward backstage atmosphere. However, the celebrity and professional pairings have not been announced, so there is no indication that producers planned to match her with Gleb.
Maura was among the first contestants confirmed for Season 35, alongside Summer House star Ciara Miller. She has also ruled out a showmance and said she wants to focus on the competition. Gleb’s response suggests he has no interest in backing down before filming. Still, neither he nor Maura has accused the other of misconduct connected to the upcoming season.
For now, the dispute remains a war of words rooted in Maura’s loyalty to Brooks. Whether they can keep things professional once DWTS begins may become an unexpected storyline.
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