Jaleel White exits 'Dancing With the Stars,' denies brawl with Kym Johnson

The dance-off on "Dancing with the Stars" last night claimed Jaleel White — a surprise, yup — who later went on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" where he denied any sort of friction with his partner, Kym Johnson.

Amusing thing about this appearance: David Arquette, her partner last season, was also a guest. Also amusing thing: She and Arquette were also voted off after the team dance...odd coincidence indeed.

Kimmel asked about that much-publicized fight with Johnson — see clip below — and both Johnson and White flat-out debunked any friction. White had a pretty good line too — "You know 'Dancing with the Stars,'" he told Kimmel. "If they catch you attacking each other, they air it! The tabloids had some fun with it, [but] it is what it is." 

Or it is what it was — an extremely heated exchange with Johnson which led to his almost quitting the show (per those reports) and she (reportedly) in tears. Disagreements are not unusual but this one was, and ABC in fact did not deny it. Happened only a couple of weeks into the new season and sent the show into DEFCON4 — after all, no contestant has ever been dropped because of a fight. It was a difficult moment indeed.

White? He was a very good dancer, and both ultimately made a good team, but for some reason — maybe those early reports — never bonded with fans. The end was pre-ordained...