March 28, 2008
Dancing with the Stars pro Karina Smirnoff is brushing off rumors of a romance with her partner, R&B singer Mario.
The New York Post’s Page Six reports Smirnoff — who has been dating her former DWTS partner Mario Lopez — was spotted kissing the other Mario at a Mercedes-Benz Oscar viewing party at Four Seasons hotel in Los Angeles in February.
But Smirnoff is laughing off the speculation. “I told you to keep it on the DL, dude,” she joked with Mario when asked about the rumors after Monday’s show. Continued Smirnoff: “Did you keep that window open? By the end of the show, I will be pregnant with Mario’s baby!”
Mario, 21, added of Smirnoff, 30, “I love this woman! I love her personality! I’ve grown to love the person that she is, and you should feel that way about your partner!” Responded Smirnoff: “Is that all it is?”
A rep for Mario (the singer) says: “They’re not dating.”
And a source close to both of the dance partners says that Smirnoff’s relationship with Mario Lopez, 34, is still going strong. “They’re totally boyfriend and girlfriend,” the source tells PEOPLE. “They went out to Eva Longoria’s restaurant [Beso] opening together.”
Instead, the source attributes the romance rumors to the dance partners’ chemistry. Says the source: “They have fun together.”
