Ilona Maher’s professional partner on Dancing With The Stars, Alan Bernsten, was branded “very bad” by a former contestant.
While the rugby player, 28, is currently competing on the show with Bernsten, his former teammate from a previous season criticized him for how he ‘shouted’ at him.
Amanda Kloots, 42, claimed Bernsten, 30, was harsh on her during rehearsals when recounting her experience on the competition show.
“He was very mean to me,” The Talk co-host said on Tuesday’s episode of the show. Boyfriend material with Harry Jowsey podcast.
However, he attributed Bersten’s attitude to his upbringing and said he believed it was because he “grew up in Russia” and “grew up in that dance atmosphere.”
Kloots, who said she received her late husband Nick Cordero’s “blessing” to find love again after visiting psychic mediums, said she acted that way because she saw “potential” in her.
Ilona Maher’s Dancing With The Stars Professional Partner Alan Bernsten Called ‘Very Bad’ By Former Contestant
While the rugby player, 28, is currently competing on the show with Bernsten, his former teammate from a previous season criticized him for how he ‘yelled’ at him.
“He saw a lot of potential in me and saw that we could possibly win this,” he explained on Jowsey’s podcast.
When he “yelled” at her during their practice time, she remembered how he hid his feelings and acted like it didn’t bother him.
“I just kept it bottled up and we were just dancing, and I was furious inside,” she recalled.
Kloots also said he believed Bersten had changed since then.
“I think Alan has grown a lot in the last few years,” he said.
“I’m saying this and I know he’ll agree with me: I helped him become a better person at teaching.”
The reality TV personality, who began her entertainment career as a dancer on Broadway and the Rockettes, previously competed on the ABC series in 2021.
Kloots ended up reaching the final with Bersten, but in the end he placed fourth.
Amanda Kloots, 42, claimed that Bernsten, 30, was harsh with her during rehearsals when recounting her experience on the competition show; photographed in September 2021 on DWTS still
“He was very mean to me,” she said on Tuesday’s episode of the Boyfriend Material with Harry Jowsey podcast; photographed in November 2021 in Los Angeles
Former basketball player Iman Shumpert won the season with JoJo Siwa in second place and Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby in third place.
Kloots previously shared information about her journey on the dance competition show during a chat with Katie Couric.
“I think for me the hardest part of Dancing With The Stars was definitely the stress of learning a new dance every week and needing it to be ready for the show, perfect to perform in six days,” she said in November 2021.
“Every dance is different because the technique is different, the style is different, what makes the dance unique is different,” he continued.
“So to learn it and then feel good about it and then feel ready enough to perform it, it was exhausting both mentally and physically.”
She attributed Bersten’s attitude to his upbringing and said she believed it was because he “grew up in Russia” and “grew up in that dance atmosphere.” Kloots said he acted that way because he saw “potential” in her; photographed in October 2021 on DWTS still
When he “yelled” at her during their practice time, she remembered how he hid his feelings and acted like it didn’t bother him. Kloots also said that he believed Bersten had changed since then; in the 2021 photo in DWTS portrait
Despite all that, she said there were positives, like her son cheering her up.
“It was very nice because he continued the journey with me,” she shared.
‘And I got into it and then I started to really like watching Alan and I dance. He started pointing at Alan too, which was really cute.’
Bersten just competed with Maher during the semi-final episode of Dancing With The Stars.
Bersten and Maher were one of five couples who made it through the round and can advance to the season 32 finale, which will air Tuesday, November 26 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.