DWTS Season 35 Dedication Night Features Tributes and Guest Judge Amid Val Chmerkovskiy Suspension

Dancing With the Stars' season 35 aired a Dedication Night in which each remaining celebrity performed a routine honoring a person or place of personal significance. Tatyana Ali paid tribute to her former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star James Avery with co-host Alfonso Ribeiro joining the dance, while Tyler Cameron, Jenna Dewan, Jackson Olson and Ezra Frech dedicated their performances to their mothers. Connor Wood honored his father, Amber Glenn celebrated her sister, Harry Shum Jr. danced for his wife, Maura Higgins chose Ireland as her focus, and Julia Stiles remembered co-star Heath Ledger.

The episode also revealed that Tyler Cameron and fiancée Tate Madden are expecting a baby girl. Former professional dancer Kym Johnson-Herjavec appeared as a guest judge.

"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," BBC Studios said in a statement.

Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended for a week after a TikTok comment referencing the 2022 Oscars slap involving Will Smith, which he made while defending fellow pro Jenna Johnson. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba responded on Instagram, and Chmerkovskiy later apologized. He will miss Dedication Night but may return for the upcoming horror-movie-themed episode.

Scoring for the night saw Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov receive the highest judges' score of 38 out of 40, while Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas earned 35. No couple was eliminated, though a double elimination is scheduled for the following week.

Viewers can vote up to ten times per couple via ABC’s website or text during the East Coast broadcast, with voting closing shortly after the final performance.