Though Maksim Chmerkovskiy and his dancing partner Debi Mazar were eliminated two weeks ago from Dancing With The Stars , he will be returning this week. Usmagazine confirms that Derek Hough has temporarily left the reality competition due to an illness. Maks will assist Derek’s partner Joanna Krupa during rehearsals. However, it is not known who her on air partner will be during Monday’s show.
This past Thursday, Derek took to his twitter page and wrote “I think I’m getting the [flu],” he wrote, noting “serious sweats . . . My whole body is aching like crazy I can barely stand up . . . And I’m coughing like crazy.”
A few hours later, he wrote of his doctor’s visit. “Had a temperature of 104 . . . Had a n IV in my arm for 2 hrs . . . Maks is steppin up for me helpin jo . . “
Maksim’s return may seem awkward since his ex-fiancée Karina Smirnoff (they broke off their engagement last month) is still present on the show.