Slimmed-down Kirstie Alley‘s become very close to her “Dancing With the Stars” partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, but he’s now gone for a break to his native Ukraine.
Alley, 60, admitted to hunky, 31-year-old professional dancer Maks, her partner on the hit ABC show, that she feels he’s a “soul friend” after they took the runner-up prize in May.
Sources tell us that while the “Cheers” star and New York-based Maks — both single — have remained very close, he’s now flown to Europe with his brother Val to film a TV game show, “The Cube.”
One source told us, “They had very strong chemistry on the show. During the long hours rehearsing, they became very close. While they were filming, Kirstie was happy to hint that their chemistry went beyond the show. Once the show ended, Kirstie and Maks continued to spend time together.
“He adores Kirstie, but she’s old enough to be his mother. He’s gone to Europe to work on something else.” The source added, “The problem with ‘Dancing With the Stars’ is the couples build a strong bond while filming, and after the show ends, it’s sometimes hard to let go of the friendship.”
When the dance partners did a “GMA” appearance in April, Kirstie clung to a coughing Maks and purred at Robin Roberts: “You sort of want to conquer a bad boy. I also knew that he would be strong enough to handle me.” She also told Ryan Seacrest, “Maks and I will be friends for eternity — it’s like soul friends . . . It was a match made in heaven and hell because we’re volatile and too much alike.” Asked if their chemistry goes beyond the dance floor, Alley said, “We always have chemistry.” Chmerkovskiy added, “Clearly.”
A rep for Chmerkovskiy declined to comment. A spokesman for Alley, who has lost 90 pounds and has now landed a role in an ABC sitcom pilot, said: “Your story regarding Kirstie and Maks is not true,” and we would “face legal action” from her lawyer.