“The Traitors” alum said in May that she doesn’t like how the professional dancer “speaks about women.”

DWTS pro Gleb Savchenko was ‘surprised’ to hear why Maura Higgins won’t partner with him in season 35

“The Traitors” alum said in May that she doesn’t like how the professional dancer “speaks about women.”

By Shelby Stivale

August 5, 2026 3:28 p.m. ET

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Gleb Savchenko; Maura Higgins. Credit:

Tiffany Rose/Getty; TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic

- *Dancing With the Stars* cast member Gleb Savchenko reacted to a recent comment made by *The Traitors* alum Maura Higgins.

- The reality star previously declared that she did not want to be partnered up with Savchenko for season 35.

- “I was quite surprised to learn she’d spoken about me so negatively,” Savchenko said in a statement to PEOPLE.

*Dancing With the Stars** *pro Gleb Savchenko appears to be confused by upcoming contestant Maura Higgins’ recent criticism of him.

“Until I was asked to comment on this story, I’d genuinely never heard of Maura, so I was quite surprised to learn she’d spoken about me so negatively,” Savchenko told PEOPLE in a statement on Aug. 5. “We’ve never met, and she doesn’t know me personally, so it’s disappointing to be judged based on a one-sided version of events rather than the facts.“

Higgins was one of the first *DWTS *season 35 cast members announced in April, alongside *Summer House** *star Ciara Miller. The following month, Higgins was asked which professional dancer she hoped to team up with — and *The Traitors *alum made it clear that Savchenko was not on her list.

“I’d be happy with anyone except Gleb,” Higgins told *E! News* in May, calling herself a “loyal” friend of Savchenko’s ex Brooks Nader.

Gleb Savchenko and Brooks Nader.

Disney/Eric McCandless

“I don’t really like the way he speaks about women,” Higgins continued. “I don’t really want to spend all my time with someone like that. I’m like, no thank you.”

Savchenko started a romantic relationship with Nader when they were partnered for *DWTS *season 33 in 2024. They split in April 2025 following a seven-month romance. Part of their relationship — and eventual breakup — was shown on Hulu’s *Love Thy Nader* reality show. The model has accused Savchenko of cheating when they were together, which he has previously denied.

'DWTS' pro Gleb Savchenko claims Brooks Nader 'choked' him and 'chipped my tooth' while intimate

Gleb Savchenko says he learned Brooks Nader was breaking up with him from tabloids

“I’m not a cheater,” the professional dancer told *E! News** *in April 2025. “I’m actually a family guy. I’m a relationship guy. I’m not a f---boy who goes around and goes on all these dates. I’m not even on dating apps.”

Higgins might be keeping an arms length from Savchenko on *DWTS*, but she’s hoping to be partnered up with another powerhouse.

“The training is meant to be quite grueling,” Higgins told *Us Weekly** *in May. “That’s why I want Mark [Ballas], because maybe he might go easy on me a bit. But then I do probably need to be pushed.”

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Higgins and Ballas previously crossed paths on *The Traitors *season 4 earlier this year. Ballas, however, has hinted that he’s not sure if fans will see him on *DWTS *this fall.

“If it’s not Mark, I think I’d want Val [Chmerkovskiy],” Higgins continued during the same interview. “I mean, to be honest, I’m OK to have anyone else. I just don’t want Gleb [Savchenko]. That’s the main thing for me.”

*Dancing With the Stars* season 35 is set for a two-night season premiere on ABC and Disney+ starting Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. ET.

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Source: “EW Celebrity”