Hope Solo claims that Maksim Chmerkovskiy slapped her across the face as they rehearsed for "Dancing With the Stars." The shocking allegation is just one of the highlights of Solo's new memoir "Solo: A Memoir of Hope."
Solo wrote, "He manhandled me in rehearsals from the start, pushing me, whacking my stomach, bending my arms roughly," USA Today reported. "I thought that was just how it went—how dancers worked with each other. But it kept getting worse. One day, Maks was trying to put me in a certain position and hit my stomach so hard with his open palm that I had a red handprint there for the rest of the day."
On Aug. 16, 2012, Maksim Chmerkovskiy wrote a message on Twitter that seems to be a response to Hope Solo's allegations: "Always hated hypocrites and liars...but when someone is both AND an opportunist, I just feel bad for them. Can't win at someone's expense."
View slideshow: "Dancing With the Stars" cast (50 photos)
Hope Solo claims that NBC offered to replace Maksim Chmerkovskiy with another dance instructor, but she declined out of fear that it would negatively impact his career. Those fears are apparently no longer an issue.
For the record Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy were never involved romantically. Chmerkovskiy is currently dating fellow "Dancing With the Stars" instructor Peta Murgatroyd. He was formerly engaged to another fellow instructor, Karina Smirnoff. Chmerkovskiy was also rumored to be dating former "DWTS" contestant Melanie Brown, a.k.a. Mel B from the Spice Girls, but they never confirmed their relationship.
Hope Solo's boyfriend at the time she competed on "DWTS" was Adrian Galaviz. She is currently single, according to Zimbio.
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