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Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Why I Lashed Out on DWTS

Mad Maks!

On Monday's Dancing with the Stars, Hope Solo's pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy really, really went off on judge Len Goodman after he called their rumba their "worst dance of the season."

Chmerkovskiy angrily objected to Goodman, charging that the remarks were "disrespectful," and that the judges' criteria for contestants wasn't fair.

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"I've been in this business for 50 years," Goodman argued.

"Then maybe it's time to go!" Chmerkovskiy barked back amid their verbal battle.

The outspoken dancer wasn't exactly contrite backstage talking with co-host Brooke Burke Charvet, either. "With all due respect, this is my show," he said. "I helped make it what it is," he said.

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Chmerkovskiy later explained himself — somewhat apologetically — to The Hollywood Reporter. "Len is the only one who comes from a ballroom background, and I really respect his opinion," he said. "I've danced for 27 years, and I've won more titles than Len ever even participated in."

As for his argument that DWTS is "my show," he explained: "I feel like it's my show, and together, with other pros, I dedicated six years of my life to this show…I've helped make it what it is, but I've never taken it away from anybody else who participated."

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"I didn't mean it in a selfish way. I love it. It's what I love doing. Our fans are phenomenal."

Tell Us: Were Maks' comments out of line?

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