Heather Morris and Maksim Chmerkovskiy respond after stunning 'DWTS' elimination: 'I'm pissed'

"Dancing with the Stars" viewers were completely shaken Monday night -- but their shock was nowhere near that of Heather Morris and Maksim Chmerkovskiy. In a dramatic twist, the frontrunners were eliminated after giving a performance that earned a perfect score. In fact, it was the first perfect score of the season!

In a word? "I'm pissed," Maks told ET after the show.

When the announcement was made, the audience reacted viscerally, with loud boos and yells echoing through the studio. "I have to say, in 24 seasons, that's probably the most vocally unhappy reaction we've gotten about a result," host Tom Bergeron said.

Maks and Heather tried to be diplomatic about their reaction, but they were clearly stunned: "Well, I mean we've had a few [surprising upsets] in 24 seasons of the show [but] I just never thought that that one of my [partners] was going to be a part of that shock," Maks said. "Brandy [Norwood] and I didn't make the final [in season 11] when I thought she was one of the best dancers that season, but [that] wasn't as shocking as this. This is crazy."

See the net worth of "Dancing with the Stars" alums

"I feel like, [as] with any show that you watch on TV, it's like, you don't really know what's coming next," Heather added. "I was kinda preparing for anything that could happen or could come my way. So it was like, okay, if this is going to happen, let's just be positive and go out the right way."

Maks had only just returned to the "DWTS" stage after being sidelined with a calf injury for a month. Fans were ecstatic to see Maks return -- but that apparently didn't translate into votes, even though the duo received perfect 10s from the judges' panel. They performed a rumba set to TLC's "Waterfalls."

Not everyone was bothered by the unexpected elimination: Heather's spot on the stage was controversial from the beginning as she has an extensive dance background. On Tuesday, a Washington Post column read, "Heather Morris was voted off 'Dancing With the Stars,' but did she really belong on the show?"

With Maks and Heather out of the game, a new frontrunner will emerge. Anything could happen!