Maksim Chmerkovskiy Says He Has 'Zero Interest' in Returning to 'Dancing With the Stars' Next Season
Sorry, Dancing With the Stars fans -- it looks like fan favorite Maksim Chmerkovskiy is wrapping up his time in the ballroom soon.
The 36-year-old dancer returned to the hit ABC show this season after taking a two-year break, but in a new interview with Bravo's The Daily Dish, he makes it clear that he has absolutely no interest in returning for season 24.
"First of all, like I've already said, I'm having the best time of my life on Dancing With the Stars," Chmerkovskiy, who's paired up with Amber Rose this season, says. "It's a known fact. I've said it. I was quoted as saying the production is on point. I feel the love. I feel like everybody's so friendly [and] we all work for the same goal, [which] is to keep dancing in television and produce a beautiful show."
"Having said that, I'm telling you right now I have zero interest in coming back as a dancer [next season]," he adds.
WATCH: Peta Murgatroyd Shows Off Baby Bump While Out to Dinner With Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Chmerkovskiy is expecting his first child with his fiancee, fellow DWTS pro Peta Murgatroyd, in January. The dancer says his new role as a father is definitely a factor in his current feelings.
"I'm going to have a newborn baby. I have zero want to do this. I promise you that," he explains. "It's been it for me two years ago. I never thought I'd be back here in this position. I'm glad I am. I promise, I'm so glad that I made this decision."
"The baby comes in January and then a month-and-a-half later I would have to be in L.A. to start training with somebody else," he continues. "Trust me, I really don't care how this comes across, but there's no money on the planet that can replace me missing out the three, four, five months of my baby's life. Zero chance. I can't wait for all of this, diapers, and all of this stuff. I can't wait for Peta to pursue her goals and whatever and I just want to be a stay-at-home dad."
Chmerkovskiy has taken breaks from DWTS before. He skipped seasons 16 and 17 of the show, and prior to the current season, he hadn't competed on DWTS since 2014, when he won the season 18 mirror ball trophy with partner Meryl Davis.
Back then, he told ET that he had no intention of competing on the show again. "I don't think so," Chmerkovskiy said when asked if he would be returning the following season. "This is exhausting. It has nothing to do with money. The first thing that I did after hugging her [Meryl] … was come up to Derek [Hough] and I was like, 'Dude, I don't know how you do it.' He did it five times. I have no idea."
WATCH: EXCLUSIVE: Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd Enjoy Last-Minute Emmys Date Night
ET spoke to Chmerkovskiy last month after his and Rose's DWTS debut, when it was clear he had babies on the brain.
"I'm gonna be a softie and she's gonna be a b**ch, for sure," he joked about 30-year-old Murgatroyd having to be the disciplinarian when it comes to their son. "She's the bad cop, 100 percent in that family, just because she will have no choice. I'm already thinking about the spoils and everything."
The season 18 champ was even looking forward to wearing a Baby Bjorn.
"I just want him to live right here [on my chest] until he's about seven years old," Chmerkovskiy sweetly said. "Until he's like, 'Dad, I don't wanna be here anymore.'"
Watch the video below to see Chmerkovskiy and Rose chat about the model's "vulnerable" DWTS debut.
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