The Maura Higgins DWTS Drama, Explained

Instagram / Gleb Savchenko / Maura Higgins

Maura Higgins is a reality star on the rise.

After memorable runs on Love Island UK and Love Island USA Aftersun, she came agonisingly close to victory on The Traitors US Season 4 earlier this year, finishing runner-up to Rob Rausch.

Peacock / Studio Lambert / The Traitors

As a clear standout player on The Traitors, Maura soon had TV offers rolling in, including a coveted spot on Dancing With The Stars Season 35.

Although DWTS is a show Maura has “always wanted to do,” she recently revealed there’s one dance pro did not want to partner with.

Maura Higgins / Instagram

In a May interview with E! News, she was asked about her ideal partner for the upcoming season.

“I’d be happy with anyone except Gleb [Savchenko],” she said. “That’s only because I’m loyal and I’m friends with Brooks [Nader].”

“No Tank you”

She continued: “I don’t really like the way he speaks about women. I don’t really want to spend all my time with someone like that. I’m like, no thank you.”

Gleb Savchenko / Brooks Nader / Instagram

The comments referred to Gleb Savchenko’s past with her friend Brooks Nader.

As People reports, the pair were partnered on DWTS Season 33 in 2024, sparked romance rumors, and later split amid cheating claims — which Savchenko has denied.

Nearly three months later, Gleb finally responded to Maura’s remarks.

Gleb Responds

In a statement to People on August 4, the longtime pro said: “Until I was asked to comment on this story, I’d genuinely never heard of Maura, so I was quite surprised to learn she’d spoken about me so negatively.”

He added: “We’ve never met, and she doesn’t know me personally, so it’s disappointing to be judged based on a one-sided version of events rather than the facts.”

ABC / Disney / DWTS

Higgins will compete on DWTS this fall alongside Ciara Miller, Jackson Olson, and Guillermo Rodriguez.

The full cast drops September 2, with the season premiering September 15 on ABC and Disney+.