Karina Smirnoff in Playboy Could Get 'Dancing' Star in Hot Water

By Rob Shuter Posted Apr 7th 2011 12:02PM

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner announced on Wednesday that the "May issue of Playboy is unforgettable with Dancing With the Stars' Karina Smirnoff on the cover and nude inside," causing people backstage at the hit family show to freak out.

"If Karina posed naked, she can kiss her dancing days goodbye," a 'DWTS' insider told me immediately after hearing of Hef's announcement on Twitter. "I hope for Karina's sake that this isn't true."

Oh, but it looks to be true as Us Weekly says they've confirmed, though Karina's rep has yet to respond and ABC told me they weren't commenting. In the meantime, the sexy dancer will continue to wow audiences each week with surprise favorite 'Karate Kid' Ralph Macchio. However, the biggest surprise is going to come later this month when the May issue of Playboy hits newsstands.

Given Ralph and Karina's popularity so far this season, it seems more than likely that they will still be foxtrotting away when the issue is released to the world.

The immediate response of ABC, I'm told, is that having one of their dancers pose naked during an ongoing season could "soil" the wholesome show's image.

"ABC publicity department controls the image of this show with an iron fist. It's a cash cow and they are not going to allow its reputation to be soiled by a dancer who wants to do Playboy," an ABC source tells me.

Aside from getting into hot water with family-TV fans and the network, I'm told that Karina may have violated the terms of her contract by posing for the venerable lad mag without getting her bosses to sign off on it.

It wouldn't be the first time a member of the 'DWTS' family has had to be stopped.

"Just a few weeks ago, ABC PR stopped [the show's host] Tom Bergeron from doing a live webcast with an outlet they didn't approve of. I can only imagine is going on right now after Hef's tweet."

Karina also wouldn't be the only person on the ballroom floor who has posed naked in Playboy. Hugh has visited the ballroom several times to cheer on his former girlfriend Kendra Wilkinson as a contestant on the show, but obviously he was paying close attention to another lady on the dance floor.

► Follow @NaughtyNiceRob on Twitter!

Tags: Dancing With the Stars, Hugh Hefner, Karina Smirnoff, Playboy

Comments

(126)

Thursday 07 April

By mdankert

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

She has a hell of a lot better body than Pam and Kendra. Much more natural and athletic. Might as well be her than on of the "celebrities" with their fake breasts and bleached hair. If it is so bad for their image they need to stop booking The Girls Next Door. Leave it to Hef, he'll drag them all down in the dirt if he gets a chance.

By Shelly

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Her popularity will soar if she poses nude for Playboy. This will be a good career move. Time after time posing for playboy has proven to be a very good move finacially and every other way. I see no reason that this is any different in any way.

By dcnashinsc

Great career move. How long can she dance on that show? Now Karina Smirnoff will be controversial. That will put her more in demand. She can write her own ticket for a couple of years. Then if she has what it takes there is no limit to what she can acheive. DWTS will have a limited run like all shows. If her talents are limited to DWTS her career will be over when it ends. Dancing is a career for the young. It is not a long term career.

By Brian Workman

Boring!!! Get over it!! Celebs take it off in public? So What!!

By kenny

Nobody pays attention to what they read .The reason Katrina would be in hot water for posing .She is on the cast of DWTS in other words an employee of ABC . The other women who have posed and been on DWTS are contestants they are not employed by ABC .The network has no control over what the contestants do or have done in the past off the air . I hope this helps clear it all up.

Wednesday 13 April

By griz

Vote down Vote up Report this

No Kenny it doesn't help.

Brooke Burke is the Host and was in Playboy.

Thanks for nothing.

By Desktopref

HOW DUMB CAN SHE GET. I HAS TO BE INTENTIONAL AND SHE MUST HAVE ENTENDED TO END HER REP OF CLEAN DANCING. IF SHE DID THIS AND WELL KNOW SOON. SHUT HER DOWN RIGHT IN THE MID SEASON NO MATTER WHAT. WHERE ARE OUR MORALS AND SELF VALUES AS A PERSON DOING??/

By john bruno

She will be gone as soon as the issue hits the newstands. The shame of it is that she is doing that to her partner. He'll be gone because of her and not because of her dancing. I hope she's gone from DWTS for good.....for the immature choice that she made.

By Tony

She should do it . Playboy has given some stars the break they needed. Like who was the poster for Hooters ?

Friday 08 April

By Rebec

Hey Tony, why don't you go pose for Playgirl and show what you have?

By Keats

I have never been a fan of Karina....shes a publicity hound. Let her go!

By Suze

If anyone is going to pose nude it should be Maks - I'd buy a Playgirl for that one!

By Barbara

It's her body and her life to do what ever she wants. I bet more people will watch daning with the stars now- right guys-guys,guys. Ha! I hope she won't be fired. I wonder what Maks thinks? I thought they were a couple for a while? Eat your heart out Maks.

By Billy Ocean

She's a total fool for doing this, and DWTS will be foolish if they keep her.

And,parenthetically, the woman isn't particularly attractive in the first place, showing that Hef is going blind.

By Tazz

I'm dizzy from the spin.

By Robert Green

Teen mom's Autobiography: "I got F**ked, I got Knocked up". Give me some money

By Rod

Lets not forget the winner of season one. She was a playboy flavor of the month or at least has had some pictorials

By rrrjamm

GAWD Give it a break... She is on top of the world right now... Why wouldn't she be in playboy??? You have Kendra dancing and she was one of Hef's girlfirends... Then you had Pamela Anderson... Hell for Hefs Birthday she came in nude...
Most likely what will happen is, more people will tune in to the show after she is in Playboy... So I am sure it will renew ratings... Good Going Young Lady... I look forward to see you...

By Jo Burnette

I hope she does not Pose for playboy. It is nice if she values her body more the almighty dollar. Respect and dignity may not be bought.

By shakira

yes, second that one put Maks on the cover of Playgirl!!!!

Page 3 of 7