Sherri Shepherd denies cheating on 'Dancing With the Stars'

Sherri Shepherd leaves the 'Dancing With the Stars' rehearsal studios in costume (X17 Online)

“Dancing With the Stars” may have a scandal on their hands, as Sherri Shepherd was forced to deny that she was secretly rehearsing months before the rest of the cast even knew they would be on the show, according to new reports.

Radar Online cited sources saying that Shepherd had been spotted at dance studios in workout gear and dance shoes with Maksim Chmerkovskiy back in December.

ABC has strict guidelines that the contestants are not to begin rehearsals until they learn they are on the show. The cast was not revealed until Feb. 28.

But on her show “The View” this morning, Shepherd denied the allegations, saying she is not partnered with Maksim Cherkoviskiy.

“We have never, I say never, we’ve never danced together,” Shepherd said, adding that she was nervous.

“I’ve never danced with Maks, I’ve never danced with Val,” she said.

Shepherd admitted that she had taken dance classes at Maksim’s studio, but said they began “long before I stated negotiations with ‘Dancing With the Stars.’”