EXCLUSIVE: Maksim Chmerkovskiy Reveals the Real Reason He's Not Returning to 'DWTS' Next Season
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Dancing With the Stars fans are once again going to have to say goodbye to Maksim Chmerkovskiy -- but perhaps not forever.
On Monday, Chmerkovskiy and his star partner, Amber Rose, got the ax after the sixth week of competition on Season 23 of DWTS, and the 36-year-old dancer spoke with ET's Angelique Jackson after the show, where he opened up about taking time off, once again, and why he came back in for this season.
"It was a Monday morning decision," explained Chmerkovskiy. "Literally over coffee."
Chmerkovskiy hasn't competed on the show since winning the Mirror Ball trophy with Meryl Davis back in Season 18. Since then, he and fellow DWTS pro Peta Murgatroyd have gotten engaged and are currently expecting their first baby.
"I just looked at Peta and I was like, 'Hey, so why don't I [return to DWTS]? I just got off the tour, and I feel great, can I?'" Chmerkovskiy recounted. "She was like, 'Let's do it! I'm not, so one of us [should], that makes sense.'"
WATCH: Amber Rose and Maksim Chmerkovskiy Aiming to 'Shock' and 'Go Out With a Bang' on 'DWTS'
But, with the arrival of his baby boy just weeks away, Chmerkovskiy admitted that he won't be coming back -- at least not for Season 24.
"There's no way!" he said. "He's going to be a month and half old [when the new season starts] and I'm gonna say, 'Ok, I'll see you in 3 months buddy?' No, that's not gonna happen."
Now that he's out of the race, Chmerkovskiy is throwing his support behind Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, who happens to be partnered with his brother, Valentin.
PHOTOS: 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 23: See the Hot Pairings!
While he admits that his choice is partially influenced by "diluted favoritism," Chmerkovskiy says that Hernandez legitimately has "the biggest potential out of this field."
For more on Chmerkovskiy and Rose's efforts during the course of this challenging season, check out the video below.
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