Gleb Savchenko will not return to Dancing With the Stars for its 35th season, after his name was left off the cast announcement amid an ongoing custody dispute with his former wife, Elena Samodanova.
The professional dancer, who has appeared on the ABC programme for 12 seasons, was absent when the new line-up was unveiled on Wednesday. The series will return over two nights on 15 and 16 September, with 16 celebrity contestants competing for the Mirrorball Trophy.
Savchenko appeared to react to the decision in a since-deleted TikTok post. Beneath a video of himself lip-syncing, he wrote: “14 years of loyalty, erased by someone’s lie. Lies all over p.”
The clip featured the dancer mouthing the words: “I don’t know where you got your information from, I don’t know who your source is, but I will be the first one to tell you that is incorrect.”
In a separate Instagram message, Savchenko struck a more conciliatory tone, telling followers: “Guys, I promise… I’m good. Nothing but love and gratitude for all the years in that ballroom. Excited for this next chapter — and wishing everyone an amazing season. No sad messages. We’re moving forward.”
ABC has not publicly explained why he is missing from the new professional line-up. Savchenko recently featured in the network’s spin-off, Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, which concluded on 1 September.
His absence comes as he and Samodanova remain locked in a legal battle over their two daughters, Olivia, 15, and Zlata, nine.
In a July court filing, Savchenko alleged that Samodanova had taken the children to Hong Kong for what was intended to be a temporary arrangement and had kept them there without his consent. He is seeking temporary sole legal and physical custody of Olivia, who is currently with him in Los Angeles, and wants her to attend school in California.
Savchenko also claimed that the children had been taken to Russia without his permission and warned that Olivia’s return to her mother could lead to what he described as an international wrongful retention or abduction.
Samodanova has denied his allegations. She has said Hong Kong is the children’s permanent home and accused Savchenko of wrongfully keeping Olivia in the United States after allegedly cancelling her flight back.
She has also said she has been Olivia’s primary caregiver and that her daughter is settled at school in Hong Kong. The custody proceedings continued in Los Angeles in August, with a hearing postponed after technical difficulties disrupted Samodanova’s remote attendance.
Savchenko and Samodanova divorced after 14 years of marriage. Their separation became acrimonious after Samodanova accused him of ongoing infidelity, allegations he denied.
The new Dancing With the Stars cast includes Julia Stiles, Jenna Dewan, Maura Higgins and former contestant Brooks Nader’s sister, Sarah Jane Nader. Sarah Jane Nader will be partnered with new professional Hailey Bills, while the judging panel will again feature Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
