Overview
- In early August, Maura Higgins told E! News she will refuse to be paired with pro Gleb Savchenko on Dancing With the Stars, saying she dislikes the way he speaks about women and wants to back her friend Brooks Nader.
- Savchenko responded to media queries by calling Higgins a "complete stranger," saying he had never heard of her and that he would not "lose any sleep" over her comments.
- Reporting notes that Savchenko previously made explicit, disparaging remarks about his former partner Brooks Nader during interviews in 2024 and 2025, which Higgins cited as part of her objection.
- Tabloid insiders have predicted awkwardness on set and say the two will likely keep their distance, while other reports stress both cast members plan to remain civil and professional during production.
- Season 35 remains scheduled to premiere in a two-night event on September 15–16, 2026, and producers will face scrutiny over whether this pre-show dispute affects rehearsals or the show's backstage dynamics.