AceShowbiz - Lea Thompson, known for her role in "Back to the Future", has spoken out about her time as a contestant on "Dancing with the Stars", revealing a challenging experience with her professional dance partner, Artem Chigvintsev.

On Cheryl Burke's iHeart podcast "Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans", Thompson described Chigvintsev as "intense" and "implacable," recalling how his disrespectful demeanor made it difficult to work with him. "Some of the things he would say to me ... it just got to be really hard," Thompson said, attributing Chigvintsev's behavior to his strict Russian ballet training.

Their contrasting dance backgrounds also led to tension. Thompson's ballet and modern dance experience differed from Chigvintsev's ballroom expertise, and she felt restricted in her creativity.

However, Thompson acknowledged the high-stakes nature of the competition and the last-minute changes that increased her anxiety. She also criticized the show's "confrontational" environment, which she found particularly challenging for women.

Thompson also recalled a "weird" comment Chigvintsev made about men being superior to women, which she strongly disputed.

Despite the strained relationship, Thompson attributed it to Chigvintsev's nerves. The "honeymoon phase" of their working partnership ended early, and while Thompson expressed a desire to be friends, she revealed that Chigvintsev had unfollowed her on social media.

News of Chigvintsev's arrest on domestic violence charges shocked Thompson.

"That's why whatever has happened to him, it's surprising to me," she said, adding that she had always viewed him as "sweet."

Thompson's experience highlights the pressures and challenges faced by contestants on "Dancing with the Stars" and the importance of fostering respectful and supportive partnerships.