KEY POINT
- Chmerkovskiy will sit out the upcoming Dedication Night episode, marking the first professional dancer suspension in the show’s history, according to the supplied reports.
- His deleted post followed judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s criticism of his wife, Jenna Johnson, during the Oct. 13 episode.
- Jenna Dewan will compete with previously eliminated professional dancer Alan Bersten while Chmerkovskiy is absent.
Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy will not participate in the upcoming Dedication Night episode of Dancing with the Stars after a social media remark about judge Carrie Ann Inaba drew criticism. The decision marks the first suspension of a professional dancer in the show’s history, according to the supplied reporting.
BBC Studios, which produces the competition, confirmed the decision in a statement reported by Deadline. The company said the well being of everyone working on the show was non negotiable and described Chmerkovskiy’s post as inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards expected of people associated with the program.
The controversy followed the Oct. 13 episode, when Inaba critiqued a routine performed by Jenna Johnson, Chmerkovskiy’s wife. The judge addressed a lift in Johnson’s choreography and read her the definition of the dance move.
Chmerkovskiy subsequently posted a message on social media saying, “You almost saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” The remark appeared to reference actor Will Smith’s confrontation with comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.
During that ceremony, Smith slapped Rock after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith’s words immediately afterward became widely associated with the incident, making Chmerkovskiy’s reference recognizable in the context of his wife’s disagreement with Inaba.
The dancer’s post was deleted, but the controversy continued after Inaba became aware of the remark. She acknowledged the situation on Instagram, thanking media outlets for bringing the comment to her attention.
Chmerkovskiy apologized publicly, acknowledging that his attempt to defend his wife had been a poor decision. He said he had referenced a meme without considering the additional implications and regretted that Inaba had been drawn into the situation.
He also confirmed that he had contacted the judge personally to apologize. In his statement, he recognized that his public platform carried responsibilities and said he needed to think more carefully before posting online.
Chmerkovskiy added that he did not want his actions to distract from Dedication Night or from his dance partner’s work. He encouraged viewers to support Inaba, Jenna Dewan and the wider Dancing with the Stars family during the episode.
The suspension will not prevent Jenna Dewan from performing during Dedication Night. According to Variety, she will be paired with Alan Bersten, who was eliminated earlier in the season.
Dewan is scheduled to perform a Viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody,” dedicating the routine to her mother. A source quoted by Variety described Dewan as professional and respectful of the competition’s process.
The situation also highlights the distinction between defending a family member and responding publicly to criticism. In this case, the production company made clear that Chmerkovskiy’s social media conduct had consequences for his participation in the program.
Inaba has previously discussed the negative reactions she receives as a judge. Speaking to Variety during Season 34, she described years of online hostility and criticism from audiences in the ballroom.
She said the negativity had sometimes made her feel afraid and caused her to become less expressive during the competition, particularly in later weeks. She also noted that male judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli did not receive the same constant booing she experienced.
Her comments provide additional context for the controversy surrounding Chmerkovskiy’s post, although the reports do not establish that her earlier experiences influenced the production company’s decision.
Chmerkovskiy will be absent from the upcoming Dedication Night episode, while Dewan is expected to compete with Bersten. The supplied reports do not confirm whether Chmerkovskiy will face any additional disciplinary action beyond missing that episode.
