Lacey Schwimmer is speaking out about a time when Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Louis van Amstel criticized her weight during her time on Dancing With the Stars. She shared her experience on Cheryl Burke’s “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans” podcast, revealing that their comments “literally broke my spirit.” Chmerkovskiy and van Amstel had slammed Schwimmer and Burke for their bodies in an interview with TV Guide in October 2008. Schwimmer responded to the comments at the time, saying she was confident and happy with her appearance. However, she now admits that she was struggling with the issue behind the scenes.
In the podcast episode, Schwimmer also discussed how DWTS contributed to her negative perception of her body and caused her to have body image issues. She revealed that the show required her to wear revealing costumes and stand next to naturally skinny girls, which made her feel the need to take extreme measures to maintain a certain weight. Schwimmer admitted that she went through periods of extreme dieting, consuming only 500 calories a day and abusing diet pills. She believes that the show values thinner contestants more, as she started receiving more attention and opportunities when she lost weight.
Schwimmer’s candid comments shed light on the pressure and scrutiny that contestants can face on reality TV shows like DWTS. It is important to remember that appearances can be deceiving, and it is crucial to prioritize mental and physical well-being over societal beauty standards.