Now here’s a romance that should make execs at ABC very, very happy.
According to Us Weekly, “Dancing with the Stars” pro mover and shaker Karina Smirnoff (a.k.a. Mario Lopez’s ex-girlfriend) and “The Bachelor” Andy Baldwin (a.k.a. Marla Maples’ ex-boyfriend and Tessa Horst’s ex-fiance) having been getting their groove on… together… in public.
Word of the romance leaked yesterday, but today Smirnoff issued a statement saying that the rumored hook up is just that—“rumors, rumors, rumors.”
The 30-year-old smoking hot dancing queen told Us, “I’m sure Andy is a cool guy; however, there is absolutely no truth to any of the rumors.”
According to eyewitnesses, Baldwin and Smirnoff were seen cuddling together at the Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas last weekend.
“They were very affectionate,” the source adds. “He was very affectionate with her. He was touching her feet when she was laying on her chaise lounge by the pool. He made sure he was always touching her.”
The couple was also seen watching a boxing match at the MGM before hitting Tao nightclub together Saturday night.
Navy doctor Baldwin is also denying that a romantic relationship exists between the two chiseled ABC reality TV stars.
“Karina is an outstanding dancer and a very sweet girl, but that’s about it,” Baldwin told Us after rumors lit up the Internet yesterday.
Smirnoff also reiterated to the magazine that she is not looking to date anyone right now (she and Lopez just broke up last month).
According to Smirnoff, she is concentrating on her career and looking forward to participating in the upcoming season of “Dancing with the Stars.”
“At the end of the day, I really want to find that certain person to spend the rest my life with,” Smirnoff added. “And I am totally open for that!”
If we see Baldwin on next season’s “Dancing with the Stars” as Smirnoff’s new partner then all of this will make sense. Otherwise, I can’t see what in the world these two could possibly have in common with each other.