Following comments that sparked tension, the former “Dancing With the Stars” professional and his wife, Peta Murgatroyd, criticized new cast member Jan Ravnik for lacking foundational ballroom technique. Maksim is now seeking to mend fences with Ravnik, who is known for being a backup dancer for Taylor Swift.

In an Instagram post dated October 30, the 45-year-old dancer publicly apologized, saying, “First and foremost, I want to apologize to Jan for the way my words made you feel, for hurting your feelings.” He expressed a desire to meet in person, suggesting, “There’s a lot more that I want to say. I would like an opportunity to do it over coffee, or any kind of time you have to spare. I would love to meet. I would love to bury the hatchet.”

Maksim concluded his message on a hopeful note, adding, “Most importantly, I think you’re going to walk away with knowing me, feeling completely different and, dare I say, we probably might even be friends.”

He added, “Most importantly, I think you’re going to walk away with knowing me, feeling completely different and, dare I say, we probably might even be friends.”

While emphasizing that he is “not not a friend” to Jan, Maks offered an explanation for why his comments may have been perceived negatively.