1. Karina Smirnoff and Mario Lopez
The pair had a significant amount of chemistry on the show and actually tried to stop themselves from acting on it. They eventually gave in and just 6 months later, Karina moved into Mario’s home in Los Angeles. Their relationship had many ups and downs. They called it off several times, only to get back together shortly after. The final straw occurred when they were forced into a long distance relationship.
Karina had to stay in Los Angeles and Mario was working on Broadway in New York. Rumors about his infidelity began to surface. She called him to confront him about what she had heard. Unfortunately, he confirmed the rumors to be true. Karina was devastated and said that at the moment, she realized this wasn’t what she wanted out of life or love.
2. Cheryl Burke and Drew Lachey
There were rumors that Cheryl and Drew were a couple, and they didn’t try very hard to cover up those rumors. According to Star magazine, “Cheryl was constantly draped all over Drew. They held hands, had their legs intertwined and were always touching inappropriately.”
It was inappropriate because, at the time, Cheryl was in a relationship with Matthew Lawrence and Drew was married with a child.
3. Lacey Schwimmer and Mike Catherwood
Rumors suggest that Lacey and Mike coupled up right when rehearsals began. Lacey was actually in a relationship before the season started, but she broke up with her boyfriend shortly after meeting Mike.
While on the show, there was tons of chemistry between the two. So much so that show personnel asked them to tone it down. Lacey later said that her and Mike were just comfortable with each other. Their touchy-feely demeanors was more playful than anything else.
4. Julianne Hough and Chuck Wicks
Julianne and Chuck were already in a relationship before going on the show. They were very well received by fans who loved to watch their obvious chemistry. Because of both of their increasingly busy schedules and lack of time for one another, their relationship eventually ended.
Julianne went on to date Ryan Seacrest who she met while dating Chuck Wicks. She said he even hit on her in front of Chuck when they were still together!
5. Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough
Shannon and Derek were partners in season 6 in 2008. After the show, they decided to pursue a relationship and dated for over a year. They even lived together for some time.
The relationship didn’t end up working out, but the two still remain good friends. Derek revealed that he always falls in love with his partners.
6. Julianne Hough and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Before entering her relationship with Ryan Seacrest, Julianne and Maksim had a short romance. Unfortunately, it did not end well. Supposedly, Julianne told him she was not interested in a serious relationship at the time, but then shortly after, began dating Seacrest, a relationship that lasted 3 years.
In response to those actions, Maks allegedly spread rumors that she was cheating on Ryan with him. When Julianne returned as a guest judge, she openly criticized Maks saying that he was lazy when he worked with Danica McKellar. Maks accepted her criticism and only later did he say that her commentary was absurd.
7. Robert Herjavec and Kym Johnson
The Shark Tank judge appeared on the 20th Season of DWTS. They have been seen traveling the world and posting their amazing adventures all over Instagram.
Cheryl Burke, Kym’s costar, says she is very happy for Kym who has been looking for a guy like Robert for a long time.
8. Mark Ballas and Sabrina Bryan
Sabrina was excited from the minute she heard Mark was going to be her partner. This excitement grew to romance during the show.
When performing with his band, Almost Amy, Mark dedicated the first song to “my beautiful Sabrina”, according to People. Unfortunately, the relationship ended in 2007 due to busy work schedules.
9. Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff
The two were engaged back in 2009, but, almost a year later, they called the engagement off. Maks wanted children right away, and Karina wasn’t ready just yet.
A source close to Karina told People that deep down, Karina knew from day one that Maks wasn’t the right person for her.
10. James Maslow and Peta Murgatroyd
James and Peta actually met before they partnered up on the show. Some of their mutual friends introduced them and they hit it off right away.
The chemistry on the show was off the charts, and though they were eliminated, the relationship continued for several months after the show.
11. Pia Toscano and Mark Ballas
Pia wasn’t officially a contestant on DWTS, but she did perform on the show. The pair dated for just 5 months before calling it quits.
Apparently, their busy schedules were to blame. According to Mark, they live down the street from one another and run into each other all the time. Luckily, the interaction isn’t awkward and they have remained friends.
12. Chris Soules and Witney Carson
Bachelor star Chris was engaged when he appeared on DWTS, but there proved to be some chemistry between the two regardless. When his fiancée didn’t show up to a few of his performances, people began suspecting that jealousy had created some problems within their relationship.
The couple split when Chris refused to stop talking to Witney even after the show had ended. The two ended up taking a romantic road trip together and pursued a relationship. Witney has currently reunited with an old boyfriend, and says she is somewhat ashamed of her relationship with Chris. She said it felt like he cared more about fame than her, so she decided to end it.
13. Cheryl Burke and Chad Ochocinco Johnson
Cheryl later admitted that they may have had a little romance, but that she wouldn’t use the word dating to describe what they had.
Either way, sparks definitely flew between the couple while they were on the show.
14. Val Chmerkovskiy and Janel Parrish
Val and Janel had great chemistry during the show. Janel even broke up with her boyfriend half way through the season, which made it seem like something might have happened between the two.
However, once the season ended, their relationship started to fizzle out. Today, they barely talk and it doesn’t seem like they are close friends anymore either.
15. Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
The two were very flirtatious with one another on set, and they staged many steamy almost-kisses during their routines.
Their chemistry was obvious, but a relationship or lack there of was never confirmed. Guess we’ll never know.
16. Julianne Hough and Helio Castroneves
Rumors sparked when Helio gave Julianne an on-air kiss and then broke up with his fiancée shortly after Julianne called off her own engagement to Zach Wilson.
The relationship ended shortly after and was never confirmed by either one of them.
17. Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Willa Ford
Willa confirmed that they were very close, but they never took it to the next level.
She said that the show loved to fuel their relationship.
18. Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff
They danced together and spent a lot of time together so naturally the rumors were swirling that they were more than just costars and dancers.
Aaron would have loved it if it was more than that, but Karina was not ready to date someone that much younger than her.