Strictly Come Dancing US professional Val Chmerkovskiy has explained why he bit his celebrity partner Jenna Dewan's neck during their Halloween Argentine Tango on Dancing With the Stars.
The move, performed at the very end of the routine during the show's Horror Movie Night, drew criticism from viewers. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Chmerkovskiy said the bite was the result of a technical problem: he could not reach the packet of fake blood he had planned to use in time.
Technical Glitch Behind the Bite
Chmerkovskiy told Entertainment Tonight: "I had a blood patch in my pocket, and I couldn't get it out in time. Usually I had blood gushing out."
He added: "I was like, 'I'm gonna get some real blood'."
Dewan said she was surprised by the explanation, telling the outlet: "I actually didn't know that."
Judges' Score and Viewer Reaction
The Argentine Tango earned 37 out of 40 points from the judges, but some viewers said they felt uncomfortable after seeing the extended contact between teeth and skin.
One person wrote on Instagram: "The neck part, I was so uncomfortable OMGGG." Another commented: "I'm still feeling grossed out by Val continuing to bite on Jenna's neck long after the music stopped." A third said: "Neck thing at the end felt crazy!"
Wardrobe Mishap for Dewan
Dewan also faced a technical issue during the routine. She told People magazine: "Argentine tango is my favourite to watch all of these years. I was hoping to get it. It's also my favorite dance I've done this whole season."
She continued: "It was amazing. I loved that dance. I'm a little mad that my heel got stuck on my skirt, which messed up one of my favourite moments of the dance. But that's the thing. Show goes on, you figure it out."
