Maksim Chmerkovskiy denies calling Dancing with The Stars dancers fat

Recently, we told you about two male Dancing With the Stars dancers, Louis van Amstel and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, calling out two of the female dancers on their weight. Chmerkovskiy is stepping forward to say that his comments were taken out of context.

Chmerkovskiy says: "I never criticized Cheryl or Lacey" (speaking of his fellow dancers Cheryl Burke and Lacey Schwimmer). Chmerkovskiy says he merely was commenting on how extra weight can take a toll on the body.

It sounds like Chmerkovskiy's comments took a toll on his fan base. He says he's received emails "telling (him) to go back to his country." Wow. That's unduly harsh -- particularly considering Chmerkovskiy's comments, even taken out of context, weren't that insulting to begin with.

Chmerkovskiy has made amends with Cheryl Burke and has reached out to Lacey Schwimmer as well.