'Dancing With the Stars' Acknowledges Val Chmerkovskiy's Suspension on 'Dedication Night'
The show directly addressed pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy's absence due to his social media post referencing the Will Smith Oscars slap.
“Dancing With the Stars” directly addressed professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy’s suspension during its “Dedication Night” episode, with co-host Alfonso Ribeiro announcing his absence at the top of the show. Alan Bersten stepped in to dance with Jenna Dewan for the evening.
“As you can see, Alan Bersten is with Jenna Dewan because Val is not with us this week,” Ribeiro stated as the episode began. Later, during the introductory package for Dewan and Bersten’s performance, Bersten acknowledged the unusual circumstances, telling Dewan, “I know it’s a really unusual situation, but I feel so honored to step in and help you this week.” Dewan responded by thanking him, and Bersten emphasized his desire to make the performance special for her and her mother, to whom the dance was dedicated.
During the judges' critique of their routine, judge Carrie Ann Inaba alluded to the behind-the-scenes turmoil, telling Dewan, “I know this journey has been a lot.” Inaba had previously drawn criticism from Chmerkovskiy for her comments on his wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson’s, performance the previous week.
Chmerkovskiy was suspended for one week after he made a social media post referencing Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars incident. The post, which has since been deleted, was made in defense of his wife, Jenna Johnson, after Inaba deemed an "illegal" lift in Johnson’s performance with partner Harry Shum Jr. as a violation of competition rules.
In his deleted post, Chmerkovskiy wrote, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” a reference to Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock and demanding he not mention his wife's name. Chmerkovskiy also commented on a fan’s TikTok video about the incident, writing, “Puts some respect on her name. Shes trippin talking to her like that.”
BBC Studios, the show's producer, issued a statement regarding the suspension, stating, “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.”
Chmerkovskiy later issued his own statement, expressing regret for his actions. “The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is putting in,” he stated. He also confirmed that he had apologized directly to Inaba.
Dewan and Bersten ultimately received a score of 37 out of 40 for their Viennese waltz. New episodes of “Dancing With the Stars” air Tuesdays on ABC and stream on Disney+.