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Derek Hough isn’t tap dancing around his version of events.
Ryan Seacrest previously claimed he had to lecture the “Dancing With the Stars” judge, 40, about his behavior on the set of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.”
During the September episode, Hough faced off against fellow “DWTS” judge Bruno Tonioli and pro Jenna Johnson-Chmerkovskiy.
He allegedly hopped on the show’s 2,400-pound wheel by mounting the podium, which isn’t allowed.
“In the commercial break, [he] was jumping on the center of the wheel and having Bruno spin it, much like the top of a cake ornament,” Seacrest, 50, told USA Today on Monday.
“We did say, ‘Please don’t do that. That would break it, and there’s only one of those wheels. If that breaks, we have a real problem.’”
Hough shared his side of the story two days later.
“Btw, this is 1000% NOT true,” he wrote on his Instagram Story Wednesday, beneath a screenshot of Seacrest’s remarks. “I would never disrespect a set like that however awesome that would’ve been to be ‘spun around it like a cake ornament’ haha.”
During Hough’s episode, he celebrated getting the answers right by seemingly jumping on top of the podium in front of him and the other contestants, which Seacrest wasn’t jiving with.
Hough ended up $63,350 for his charity of choice, Feeding America.
“We had to sort of say, ‘Stick to the ledge,’” Seacrest recalled, adding that the “DWTS” guests are “very physical, and that makes for fun.”
The “Wheel of Fortune” host also spoke out on his longstanding history with Hough. Seacrest previously dated the EXTRA host’s sister, Julianne Hough, from 2010 to 2013.
“Knowing someone, or being friends, is definitely helpful,” he explained. “You can kind of tease them more than somebody you don’t know.”
Seacrest took over leading “Wheel of Fortune” and its celebrity spinoff version in Sept. 2024 after longtime host Pat Sajak’s retirement.
Vanna White remains as the series co-host.
White, 68, co-hosted the series with Sajak, 78, for 40 years since their 1981 debut.
“He did slip right in because he did his research and his homework. He really studied, and he practiced and all that,” she told the Post about Seacrest in April. “So he did a good job stepping in, and he always said, ‘I am not replacing Pat Sajak. I’m not taking his place. I’m just stepping in.’”
Last spring, the pair took the show to Hawaii for a special episode while Seacrest filmed “American Idol.”
“We had so much fun and he’s such a character,” White gushed. “I mean, him falling into the water and doing all those fun things. We had a great time.”
“I have a lot fun with the job, but I take the responsibility very seriously,” Seacrest told The Hollywood Reporter in June. “We all have memories of watching ‘Wheel’ with our families. I mowed lawns growing up in Atlanta just to save money to buy a Zenith TV for the kitchen so we could watch ‘Wheel’ during dinner!”
“There were conversations — actually, years ago — about me doing this show, and I expressed interest even back then,” he added. “When you look at what Pat and Vanna have built over the years … they are your friends. What they’ve established is special. So that’s why I said yes.”
Seacrest also shared his favorite part of the gig.
“It can get physical, too!” he said about interviewing contestants. “Maybe it’s my size, but the men throw me around. I think, ‘Oh my God, it’s coming.’ I bruise easily, you should know.”