Context Behind the Absence
Fans of Dancing With the Stars will notice a change in the lineup for the upcoming 'Dedication Night' on Tuesday, October 20. Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy will not be appearing alongside his partner, Jenna Dewan. Instead, Alan Bersten will step in to fill the role as Chmerkovskiy serves a one-week suspension from the popular competition program.
This disciplinary action follows a dispute involving DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba and Chmerkovskiy’s wife, Jenna Johnson. During a previous episode, Inaba critiqued Johnson’s samba performance with partner Harry Shum Jr., citing an illegal lift in the routine. Inaba defined the violation by stating, «A lift is — I just need to say it — any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner.»
The Social Media Escalation
Following the critique, Chmerkovskiy took to social media to defend his wife. He notably made a reference to the 2022 Oscars incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock, posting, «You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.»
Inaba responded to the post directly, questioning the nature of the comment. After receiving significant backlash, Chmerkovskiy removed the post and issued a formal apology. He stated, «I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post. I have reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly and personally and I also want to apologize publicly as I understand my words affect so many outside our internal DWTS family.»
Official Response and Consequences
Production representatives confirmed that an investigation was conducted following the incident. A statement regarding the decision emphasized the importance of maintaining professional standards within the production:
«The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing With the Stars is non-negotiable. Val’s social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show. As a result, he will not participate in next week’s show.»
Chmerkovskiy acknowledged the suspension, admitting that his attempt to defend his wife through a meme was a «poor decision» that lacked necessary foresight. He expressed regret for involving Inaba in the situation and encouraged fans to support the remaining cast during the upcoming broadcast.
While Chmerkovskiy has shifted his focus to spending time with his family, his wife Jenna Johnson has remained focused on her rehearsals. Meanwhile, Harry Shum Jr. took to social media to offer a reminder about the spirit of the show, writing, «Reminder that this is a dance show. It is supposed to be joyous. People are suffering in the world already, so let’s celebrate each other with more love.»