This season of Dancing with the stars had its share of controversies.
While Cheryl Burke expressed her desire to retire from the competition, and Artem Chigvintsev and Kaitlyn Bristowe complained of unfair treatment, Gleb Savchenko is experiencing a public break with his wife Elena Samodanova.
A number of charges have been brought against Savchenko – including that he cheated on a cast member – but he continues to challenge his ex-wife’s allegations.
Elena Samodanova and Gleb Savchenko split in November
Savchenko and Samodanova married in 2006 and, after 14 years together, announced that they would split in November. Samodanova, who is also a professional dancer, started posting a series of cryptic notes on Instagram before the ex-couple made an official announcement.
One of his messages said: “I don’t hate you, I’m just disappointed that you have become everything you said you never would be”.
Savchenko issued a statement via US Weekly and indicated that the pair would focus on co-parenting their two daughters. “It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that my wife and I are separating after 14 years of marriage,” he wrote.
“We still intend to have our wonderful children together, who we love so much, and we will strive to continue to be the best parents we can for them. We ask that you respect our family’s need for privacy and healing during this time. “
Initially, Samodanova said that Savchenko was cheating on her, leading many to believe that the professional dancer was unfaithful to her. DWTS partner, Chrishell Stause.
RELATED: Fans Defend Chrishell Stause Amid Rumors That She Had An Affair With Gleb Savchenko
Samodanova asks for divorce, identified with new boyfriend
On December 22, Samodanova filed for divorce. Page six reported that she was seen on a beach in Mexico with a DWTS (the Russian version) the dancer Vlad Kvartin and the two were kissing and hugging.
In the month since the separation, Samodanova publicized on social media his relationship with Savchenko and accused him of infidelity and of abandoning her financially. But Savchenko refutes her story and claimed that she was unfaithful to Kvartin.
Savchenko says the marriage was abusive
In addition to claiming that his ex-wife was the one who cheated on her, Savchenko says she was mentally abusive. He spoke to Entertainment Tonight and claimed that Samodanova was jealous of his DWTS work in America and she orchestrated things so she could work with Kvartin DWTS Russia.
“We’ve had problems for years. I was in a mentally abusive and jealous relationship, ”said Savchenko. “I always said to myself, ‘Listen, she is the mother of your children, and you love her, make it work for your children.'”
He also said his home cameras caught her coming and going late at night while she was drunk. Savchenko denied cheating.
“The point is, I never really cheated on you. Never never never. This whole thing, she was trying to set everything up, ”he said. “All those partners that I danced with, it may have looked like on TV [it was something more], but it was never the case. “
The dancer added that Samodanova is working to tarnish his reputation. He accused her of making a threat: “After this divorce, I will skin you. I will take everything you have, even your children, and make you go back to Russia, where you came from. Those were her exact words, ”recalled Savchenko.
The separation is happening in public, but both say they want to move on with their children and their professional lives.