Professional dancer Gleb Savchenko has broken his silence regarding his former celebrity partner Hilaria Baldwin's assertions that she was a victim of online bullying which led to their early exit from the latest season of Dancing with the Stars.
The Professional Partner's Perspective
In an exclusive interview shared with the Daily Mail, Savchenko, who was partnered with the 41-year-old mother-of-seven on the ABC competition's 34th season, confirmed he remains in contact with Baldwin. He revealed the direct counsel he offered her in the wake of the controversy.
'In my opinion, there's billions of opinions, so just cut the noise,' the dancer stated. He elaborated, 'You can say whatever and people talk s**t about me too, but I know who I am. I've got a good heart and I'm a good person - I've never done anything wrong.'
Savchenko emphasised the importance of self-assurance in the face of public criticism. 'People can talk s**t about you all day long and create stories, try to seek attention, whatever that is,' he said. 'I know who I am, and my friends love me, so that's all I care about. We were so locked in the competition, so I just told her to brush it off - who cares?'
Baldwin's Allegations of a Coordinated Campaign
The duo faced a shock elimination during the fourth week of the competition. Since their departure from the show, Baldwin has been vocal, repeatedly stating she felt forced off the programme.
During an appearance on the Too Much podcast, Baldwin claimed that online trolls orchestrated a campaign to suppress her vote count. 'They're gonna vote for all the couples besides me, or besides X person,' she alleged, explaining how this tactic could influence the results.
She expressed a desire to publicly address the issue, stating it had happened to other contestants in the past. 'I'll be the person who's crying in front of the world because I'm gonna show my humanity,' Baldwin said. 'Some people are gonna like that and some people are gonna make fun of me more for that.'
Clarifications and Moving Forward
In a surprising turn, Baldwin noted that some individuals who participated in the alleged online campaign have since reached out to apologise. She was also quick to clarify a crucial point: the bullying did not come from within the Dancing with the Stars cast.
'Everybody on the show is lovely,' she affirmed.
Despite the challenging experience, Baldwin insists she does not want pity and reflected positively on her time in the competition. 'I don't need people to 'feel bad' for me,' she stated, adding that she had the 'time of my life' on the show. 'I'm only a better, happier person because I did the show.'
However, her stance on the nature of the online activity remains firm. In an Instagram Live session following her elimination, Baldwin called it 'coordinated, strategic bullying' and unequivocally stated, 'I did get bullied off the show. I did; that’s for sure. That is for sure.'
