DWTS judge cites illegal lift; pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy suspended after Instagram comment
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba flagged a lift in a samba routine on "Dancing With the Stars," prompting professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy to post a controversial Instagram remark and receive a one-week suspension.
During the October 13 "Super Bowl Night" episode of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," Harry Shum Jr. and his partner Jenna Johnson performed a samba that included a lift, a move that judge Carrie Ann Inaba said is not permitted in traditional samba. Inaba defined a lift as "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" and gave the pair an 8 out of 10.
Johnson later told reporters that she had assumed the lift rule applied only to the principal performers, not to backup dancers, and said she would accept the feedback.
The following day, professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy posted on Instagram a comment referencing Will Smith's 2022 Oscars incident, expressing frustration with Inaba's ruling. BBC Studios, which produces the show, announced that Chmerkovskiy would be suspended for one week, stating that his post was "inappropriate" and did not reflect the values expected of the program's staff.
Alan Bersten, who was previously eliminated from the competition, will step in as Jenna Dewan's partner for the next episode. Chmerkovskiy later issued an apology on Instagram, saying his comment was a poor decision made in defense of his wife and that he did not intend to cause any further distraction.
The incident marks the first suspension in the history of "Dancing With the Stars."