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.

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

Comments

(126)

Thursday 07 April

By Carole

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She wears less then anyone on DWTS, This week not much on. The others that were in Playboy were not the professional dancers, just pros:) Everyone wants to show thier bodies today. They have all had boob jobs, but dancers and ice Skaters are in the best shape

By Mary

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I don't care for her at all. I think she played Max. She strikes me as a woman that sleeps around and thinks she is all that. She is just kind of trashy.

By jessi

some of this political correctness,or,whatever you wanna call it, makes me wanna puke.so what if she poses,geeze

By Nasty

shes a erohw anyhow-shes been with multiple men on that show-all used up...

By spike

Shes incredibly sexy on DWTS .How much sexier could she be in playboy? Whats the diferance ,between playboy and Dancing with the stars? Hands ,anyone?

By DAVE

THE OTHER"NUDDIES" WERE CONTESTANTS NOT THE PROS. THINK SHE SHOULD WAIT TILL END OF SHOW UNLESS IT IS A PUB.STUNT.

Wednesday 13 April

By Griz

Dave,

Brooke Burke.

By vickie

The difference between kendra and karina is ...Kendra started there and that is how she became a star...karina doesn't need to pose for playboy...we already know she has a hot body ...we don't need to see her nipples and pubic area...do we????/

By M

Give me a break! The female dancing pros barely wear anything on the show. So what if Karina bares all in Playboy. More power to her. If people want to watch "wholesome" TV, watch the Disney channel. Oh, wait...wasn't Miley Cyrus on that channel or how about the Spear's sister. I agree, if ABC reports that they have a problem with this, it's all about publicity. I do have a request, Maks should pose in Playgirl.

By Jay Anderson

I will definitely take a look at that thing next month.

Friday 08 April

By DORIS

I agree with mimsysc - MAX is the only reason I love DWTS. And why the big hoopla over a nude picture. Did anyone notice the almost nude costumes on DWTS ?? They leave LITTLE to the imagination. However, they are beautiful and if I had a figure like that, I'd wear the almost nothing too.

By habu

this is BS look at what they wear, A gay guy judge and the danking is like haveing sex with clothes on. get real all we going to see is the nipples and the guys all ready show those. so it is all BS

By Jane

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To call DWTS a family show is a LAUGH!! The first year or two may have been but it quickly went to the dogs. The costumes and the dance moves are not what I call family time. The dancers do everything but "it" on the stage.

By Sherry

Jane, you are full of it. The majority of the dances are fine and even if they went "over the line" as you are saying. Kids are exposed to alot worse at school. If you are really worried about morals go address that problem.

By Warner

Contestants Holly Madison, Kendra, Pam Anderson, Lisa Rinna, Kelly Monaco, Denise Richards,Kim Kardashian,Shannon Doherty, Shannon Elizabeth, Tia Carrere,Shanna Moakler, Joanna Krupa,Audrina Patridge and even host Brooke Burke and judge Bruno Tomioli have all posed nude. Why would it hurt Karina (she has already posed nude for Peta). She is a beautiful woman and if she wants to do it, more power to her.

By bigtex9

How many days till may!!!! she is the total package, total sex bomb.

By newportblu

Seriously, this show hasn't been wholesome "family" entertainment since the first season. It could be but the costuming leaves little to the imagination. Trust me, nobody watches Dancing for the wholesomeness.

By Brian

Who watches the show anyway?

By Wade Bell

So.......DWTS can have Kendra and Pammy as contestants but heaven forbid Karina pose......Hmmmmmm sounds like a double standard to me......I'm glad i don't watch.....

No that is not a double standard. They were not under contract with DWTS at the time. Karina is and I am sure there is a "moral clause" in her contract. If Pamela was a judge (God help us) and she posed for Playboy now they could fire her

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