After reports started surfacing that fan favorite Maksim Chmerkovskiy would not be returning for season 16 of Dancing with the Stars, the pro-hoofer was quick to release a statement claiming it was his decision to leave -- but an explosive new report in Star magazine says that in actuality it was the producers of the hit show who made the decision, NOT him!

“Maks is trying to spin it as if it was his decision, but in reality, he was not asked back,” a show insider dishes to Star.