Dancing With the Stars has suspended longtime pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy from the October 20 episode, marking the first pro-dancer suspension in the show’s 35-season history. The decision came after Chmerkovskiy posted an inappropriate social-media comment directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
The suspension follows a tense moment during the October 13 episode, when Inaba criticized Chmerkovskiy’s wife, fellow pro dancer Jenna Johnson, over a lift in her routine with celebrity partner Harry Shum Jr.
What Val Chmerkovskiy Posted
After the episode aired, Chmerkovskiy appeared to defend Johnson in a social-media post referencing Will Smith’s infamous Oscars moment with Chris Rock. He wrote that viewers “almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.”
The post was quickly deleted, but not before Inaba and other members of the Dancing With the Stars community saw it. Chmerkovskiy later issued a public apology, saying he had also reached out to Inaba personally.
“I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post,” he wrote. “I have reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly and personally, and I also want to apologize publicly as I understand my words affect so many outside of our internal DWTS family.”
He added that he would “do better moving forward” and acknowledged the importance of thinking before posting.
Why DWTS Suspended Val Chmerkovskiy
In a statement, BBC Studios said Chmerkovskiy’s post was inappropriate and did not reflect the standards expected of people connected to the show.
“The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable,” the statement said. “Val’s social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show.”
The show confirmed that Chmerkovskiy would not compete during the October 20 episode.
Chmerkovskiy later addressed the suspension in an Instagram Story, calling his decision a “poor choice” and saying he did not want to distract from the work of his celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan.
Who Replaces Val Chmerkovskiy?
For Dedication Night, Jenna Dewan will dance with pro Alan Bersten instead of Chmerkovskiy. The pair will perform a Viennese Waltz to The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody,” dedicated to Dewan’s mother, Nancy.
Chmerkovskiy has been part of Dancing With the Stars since Season 2 and is one of the show’s most successful pros. He has won the Mirrorball Trophy three times: with Rumer Willis in Season 20, Laurie Hernandez in Season 23, and Xochitl Gomez in Season 32.