Maksim Chmerkovskiy has quit Dancing with the Stars.
Following speculation about whether or not the 34-year-old would be returning for the next season of the show, Maksim revealed on Tuesday that he’s “done dancing”.
He made the admission during an interview on television show The View.
“I’m done dancing,” Maksim said. “I feel like it’s time.”
Maksim originally left Dancing with the Stars after series 16, but returned for the 18th season. He was crowned the winner of the series with celebrity partner Meryl Davis.
However, despite his departure, Maksim added that he has nothing but fond memories of his time on the show.
“I loved the experience,” he said. “When I came back to the show, it was not the same… I was different, probably.
“When I came back, I saw this amazing talent, my brother Val included. I looked at it and thought they can do much more and better, I was taking up a huge spot.”
Maksim’s announcement comes after he previously hinted that he was ready to hang up his dancing shoes once and for all.
During an interview with Social Life magazine in June after his and Meryl’s victory, Maksim explained: “I want Meryl to be the last person I dance with. The last person I got to be passionate with and care so much for."
Despite Maksim’s exit announcement, it has been his personal life that has been hitting headlines in recent weeks. Maksim first sparked rumours that he and Jennifer Lopez were more than just friends when they were spotted on what appeared to be a date together back in June.
They then fuelled the claims when Maksim attended a birthday party for Jennifer in Connecticut on Thursday.
But as he was interviewed over the weekend, Maksim refused to comment on the alleged romance.
Asked by America’s People magazine if Jennifer would be attending his performance of Sway: A Dance Trilogy in Westbury, New York on Saturday night, Maksim replied: “I have a lot of friends and a lot of them are coming tonight.”
“I'm focused on dancing,” he then added. “I'm not interested in talking about anything other than the show.”
