DWTS acknowledges Val Chmerkovskiy's suspension during Dedication Night

During Tuesday's "Dedication Night" episode of "Dancing With the Stars," co-host Alfonso Ribeiro noted that professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy was absent, with Alan Bersten partnered with Jenna Dewan for the week. Bersten told Dewan he felt honored to step in and emphasized the focus on her tribute to her mother, Nancy Lee Bursch, during their Viennese waltz.

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba referenced the challenges of the competition while commenting on Dewan's performance, and co-host Julianne Hough described the episode as an emotional night. The pair received a score of 37 out of 40, and Bursch appeared briefly during the routine.

Chmerkovskiy had been suspended after a social-media post that referenced the 2022 Oscars incident involving Will Smith, which producers deemed inappropriate. A statement from BBC Studios said the well-being of the show's staff is non-negotiable and that the post did not align with the program's standards. In his own statement, Chmerkovskiy apologized, calling his comment a poor decision and expressing regret for involving judge Inaba.

The episode aired on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern, with a streaming release on Hulu the following day.