Ballerinas are pimped out by Russia's Bolshoi Ballet, in a breaking news story that has gone viral.

After the acid attack on artistic director, the news that ballerinas are being pimped out to promote the ballet company will have an even more detrimental effect on the company's reputation as one of the premier Ballet companies in the world.

Former Russian Bolshoi Ballet prima ballerina Anastasia Volochkova appeared on a Russian television show and claimed that female dancers were pimped out and forced to have sex with wealthy men, or risk losing their jobs at the theater.

Volochkova, 37, was fired from the Moscow ballet company for being 'too fat,' according to the Daily Mail.  

The former prima ballerina said, "Unfortunately, the Bolshoi general director has turned the Bolshoi theatre into a giant brothel."

"It mainly happened with the corps du ballet but also with the soloists. Ten years ago when I was dancing at the theater, I repeatedly received propositions to share the beds of oligarchs," she continued.

"The girls were forced to go along to grand dinners and given advance warning that afterwards they would be expected to have sex. When the girls asked, 'What happens if we refuse?' they were told that they would not go on tour or even perform at the Bolshoi theatre. Can you imagine?" Volochkova asked on a Sunday talk show.

The theatre's general director, Anatoly Iksanov, denied the allegations and described the claims as 'dirt and ravings'.

However, it is unclear what Volochkova would gain by spreading false rumors.

She has already won a legal case against the Bolshoi, after she was fired for being 'too fat' for her position as prima ballerina in 2003.

Volochkova is currently a prominent television personality, and has attempted to enter the world of politics.

Volochkova's claims will only add to the pre-existing tensions within the theater, after artistic director Sergei Filin was attacked with acid in January.