Dancing with the Stars eliminated Hope Solo and Maks Chmerkovskiy in the Semifinals, but what happened next is nothing short of bizarre. Hope and Maks seemed to vanish. It’s protocol for eliminated contestants to appear on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live on results night, and on Good Morning America the morning after. Both shows hosted the three final three, with neither Hope or Maks anywhere in sight. Where were they?
The only press Hope did was an interview backstage after Dancing with the Stars, but it ended abruptly after she fled in tears. Read E!’s account of what happened here. Maks didn’t do any press after the show.
At first it was thought she chose not to, beause her rep told E! she was too emotional for interviews. But JKL promo’d the final 3 appearance even before DWTS aired and booted the couple. For her part, Hope even tweeted: I'm sitting at the airport happy as can be. I would have loved to have been on kimmel or gma to officially thank all the wonderful People I met. Especially the behind the scenes people that helped me everyday.
And then later, after being deluged by inquiring fans: I'm sorry everybody! @maksimC and I would never want to cheat our fans! We love you guys! It wasn't our decision.
Maks himself tweeted: Would never disrespect fans by not doing press! Was told not to. And would have loved to be on Kimmel or GMA! Y'all know I like speaking ;)
So obviously it was Dancing with the Stars and/or ABC’s decision not to have them appear. Fans are absolutely up in arms about this. @dancingabc, the show’s main Twitter account, is being bombarded by ticked off fans slamming the show and threatening never to watch again for the way they perceive Hope and Maks were treated.
But what was behind it? Was it Maks’ contention this season with Len and Carrie Ann? Was it because Hope told the judges in a backstage confessional to kiss her booty? The antics may have lead the show to fear either Hope or Maks would speak out of turn (and that’s putting it mildly) and hurt Dancing with the Stars' reputation. Remember Maks’ interview with GMA a couple of weeks ago. I’m sure the brass wasn’t too pleased with that. Was it punishment or protection? Probably a little of both.
UPDATE: Maks' speaks out on JR & Karina
Oh, poor little foul-mouthed bad sports! They probably weren't asked to do the shows because most of the interviews would have to be bleeped. Bottom line, Hope wasn't a great dancer. Their previous whining got the idiots all up in arms and voting for them and they probably hoped it would work again. Too bad, so sad.
You are a complete idiot. Are you a choreographer?
It was probably a little of both punishment and protection. However, ABC really didn't need to worry about protection from Hope at least. She was classy in her goodbye speech and is always good in interviews. In the one interview before she broke down, she was very sweet. Her bark is far worse than her bite. ((The only people who seemed to really piss her off were the judges (though maybe that's misplaced anger at the producers because ultimately the judge's just puppet the producer's script.))
Ultimately, though it is a slap in the face of the viewers. DWTS asks the viewers to get actively and emotionally involved by voting. All the fans of Hope and Maks (probably millions) wanted the closure of the exit interviews. ABC seems to think they are punishing Maks and Hope, but they are really just succeeding in pissing off viewers. Plus, they can only stifle Hope for so long. She does a lot of interviews for soccer and those should be starting up again soon.
I just don't think it is right that they were kept of of JKL or GMA since it is protocol they the eliminated couple goes on both shows. I think they both have more class and common sense then to go on either show and make themselves look like an ass.
PS Did Hope get to keep her dancing shoes since they didn't officially get burnt on JKL?
I think the producers knew that they underscored hope and maks all season, that argentine tango deserved 10's for sure, as well as the instant jive and the quickstep. They wanted them gone from day one. I won't ever watch that show again. Their treatment of hope and maks was very blatantly negative. Wish them all the best !
U r smoking crack! They sucked the whole entire season! Should have been gone in week three. Maks needs to take lessons from that genius blonde Derek Hough in class and choreography instruction. NUFF SAID!
I am glad that Hope and Maks got voted out they were the bottom couple.
Really, Sue? 10's?!!
Well, I'd love to see what Maks has to say. Censorship in this case is not warranted. He knows there are lines which should remain uncrossed. Who cares what Hope has to say? She was the source of most of the drama, I believe.
They deserved 10′s? Bwahahahahahahahah! That’s hilarious! I don’t think Hope ever watched herself on tv … or Maks for that matter… and I put a lot more of the blame on Maks, because he’s the pro and should’ve let her know she wasn’t ever going to be earning any tens… The other pros are much more realistic and they certainly don’t allow their stars to think they are great if they really suck!!!! I think Hope’s natural arrogance had a lot to do with her thinking they were underscored, but Maks filling her head with that is ridiculous! And even more laughable is Hope thinking the other three couldn’t do what she could do!!!!! Really Hope? I certainly hope you don’t think you are actually better that Rob, Rickie, and J.R.? I really think you do. Bwahaha!
Hope and Maks weren't the best, but that doesn't mean they deserved to be treated as they were. They were part of DWTS for good or for bad,they had fans who kept them in all the way to the semi-finals, they had fans who wanted to see them do the exit interviews, and they were cheated…not by Hope and Maks but by TPTB at ABC and that is what sucks. The judges have favorites, every year…that much is obvious. They are human they are allowed. Typically their scores don't show that but their comments do. They are at least professional enough to do the right thing when it comes to their scores. However, some of the personal comments are unprofessional, to put in mildly. ABC does editing, ABC gets to air what they want, IMO they probably did start to air Hope and Maks in less than a favorable light. Sure both Hope and Maks said stuff in the confessional and to each other on the dance floor that wasn't kind about the judges. Lucky for Carrie Ann and Len they aren't subjected to the same kind of stuff. IMO ABC made sure to give their "slant" on things. Such is life. But them denying fans the interviews with Maks and Hope was wrong IMO.