Val Chmerkovskiy has recently attracted considerable controversy regarding his participation in the current season of “Dancing with the Stars.” Following an inappropriate comment made on social media, Chmerkovskiy has been suspended from performing, marking an unprecedented action by the show’s producers. His partner, Jenna Dewan, will perform with fellow dancer Alan Bersten in his place on the upcoming episode scheduled for October 20.
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Chmerkovskiy’s suspension comes after he made a reference to the infamous slap delivered by actor Will Smith at the Oscars in 2022. This was in reaction to commentary made by judge Carrie Ann Inaba regarding his wife, Jenna Johnson, and her partner Harry Shum Jr.’s performance during the show. Inaba had critiqued their samba routine, suggesting it contained an illegal lift.
In response to these critiques, Chmerkovskiy’s social media post, which has since been deleted, included the line, “You almost saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” This comment seemingly drew a parallel to Smith’s actions at the Oscars and was perceived as a direct affront to Inaba, who subsequently called attention to the remark on her own social media.
Producers at BBC Studios, responsible for the show, promptly labelled Chmerkovskiy’s comment as “inappropriate” and at odds with the values upheld by the programme. They stated, “The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable,” emphasising their commitment to maintaining a professional environment. As a result of his actions, Chmerkovskiy will be absent from the competition this week, opting instead to support his colleagues from the sidelines.
Amidst this turmoil, Emma Slater, who is currently in a relationship with Bersten, took to TikTok to clarify his role in the upcoming performance. She explained that, although Bersten had been eliminated earlier this season whilst dancing with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, he would be stepping in for Chmerkovskiy to ensure continuity for Dewan. Slater commented, “Yeah that’s what happens,” expressing camaraderie among the dancers and showcasing their willingness to support one another.
Chmerkovskiy himself acknowledged the gravity of his mistake on October 17, sharing his regret about the incident. He stated, “In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision… without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply.” He underscored that it was never his intention to cause distress to Inaba and regretted that she was caught in the fallout of his poor judgement.
Meanwhile, Dewan has continued to prepare for her performance amidst the upheaval. In a recent post on the show’s Instagram account, she and Bersten teased their upcoming routine, a Viennese waltz set to the Righteous Brothers’ classic “Unchained Melody.” Dewan expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming dance, dedicating it to her mother, adding a personal touch to the performance that has nonetheless been overshadowed by her partner’s absence.
“Dancing with the Stars” continues to air on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with episodes becoming available for streaming on Hulu the following day. The show’s mixture of competition and drama has once again captured public interest, albeit not without significant controversy surrounding one of its star dancers. As the series progresses, it will be interesting to see how both contestants and producers handle the fallout from this incident, and how it may influence the dynamics within the competition going forward.