Val Chmerkovskiy Suspended from 'Dancing with the Stars' After Controversial Social Media Post
Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended from the show following a deleted Instagram comment referencing the 2022 Oscars incident, and was absent from the Oct. 20 episode.
Val Chmerkovskiy did not appear in the ballroom during the Tuesday, Oct. 20 episode of "Dancing with the Stars" after the network announced his suspension, the first such action in the series' history. Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro introduced the segment with a brief note that "Val is not with us this week," without elaborating on the disciplinary measure.
The suspension follows a social-media post by Chmerkovskiy that referenced the 2022 Oscars altercation involving Will Smith. The comment was directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba after she critiqued his wife Jenna Johnson's performance on the previous episode. Inaba was present in the studio for the Oct. 20 show.
"In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme to 'keep my wife's name' out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention," Chmerkovskiy wrote on Instagram Stories on Oct. 17.
"The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is putting in. Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna, and the whole DWTS family lots of love during Dedication Night. I'll be watching and cheering everyone on!!"
Alan Bersten stepped in for Chmerkovskiy, partnering with Jenna Dewan for a Viennese waltz performed to "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers. Bersten expressed his gratitude on Instagram, noting his honor to dance with Dewan and her mother.
Earlier, Chmerkovskiy issued an apology to Inaba, stating he had reached out personally and publicly, acknowledging that his words had a broader impact. BBC Studios, the production company behind the series, described the post as "inappropriate" and said it did not reflect the values expected of those associated with the show. The studio emphasized that the well-being of all staff is a non-negotiable priority.
"Dancing with the Stars" airs live on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with a next-day stream on Hulu.