Fresh off of being dismissed from Dancing With the Stars, Rocco DiSpirito’s former partner, Karina Smirnoff, says she hopes current contestant Cloris Leachman lands a win in the competition. Smirnoff also defends the 82-year-old award-winning actress against recent harsh rumors.
“I love Cloris Leachman—I'm definitely gonna vote for her,” said Smirnoff Saturday at Best Buy's Guitar Hero World Tour VIP Launch Event in Hollywood. “The things Cloris would say backstage [on the set of Dancing], when the cameras were off, were so funny. Our first reaction was, "Whoa! She didn't just say that!" But then you're like, "Oh, that's pretty cool, actually. Who else can get away with this?”
And what about those pesky rumors that people on DWTS are annoyed with Leachman’s behavior?
“People love to build up a hero and then have that hero fall,” said Smirnoff. “I think that's our human nature.”
“At the end of the day, I got to spend some time with her, and I got to know her, and she's an amazing woman, Smirnoff added. “She's got so much to offer, and she's so witty and charismatic. People always criticize; people always have something to say. We all do it; we all are judges in our own minds.”
And if Smirnoff’s No. 1 pick gets eliminated?
“I think Warren Sapp is amazing,” she said. “He’ll be my pick if Cloris doesn’t make it through.”
Smirnoff showed up to Saturday’s event walking hand in hand with fellow dancer—and rumored Cheryl Burke ex—Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Other attendees at the bash included Mischa Barton, Holly Montag, Adam Gregory, Dean McDermott, Audrina Patridge, Mark McGrath and E!'s own Ashlan Gorse. Celebs and other guests played Guitar Hero, while also enjoying a live performance by the Smashing Pumpkins.
—Additional Reporting by Dahvi Shira