Emma Slater Defends Boyfriend Alan Bersten Amid 'DWTS' Replacement Controversy
The 'Dancing With the Stars' pro responded to fan criticism regarding Bersten stepping in for Val Chmerkovskiy.
Emma Slater, a professional dancer on "Dancing With the Stars," has publicly defended her boyfriend, fellow pro Alan Bersten, after he was tapped to replace Val Chmerkovskiy for an upcoming episode. The controversy arose when Chmerkovskiy was suspended for a week following controversial comments made about judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
Bersten is now partnered with actress Jenna Dewan for Dedication Night. This move has drawn criticism from some fans and former pros, including Gleb Savchenko, who questioned Bersten's qualifications to step in, noting that Bersten had been eliminated earlier in the season with his original partner, Giada De Laurentiis.
Slater addressed the criticism in a TikTok comment on a video expressing disbelief about Bersten replacing Chmerkovskiy. "Yeah that’s what happens, we all step in for each other," Slater responded, emphasizing a supportive team dynamic.
Savchenko had previously voiced his opinions on a TikTok livestream, suggesting that a dancer from the troupe should have been given the opportunity instead of Bersten. He commented on Bersten's perceived skill level, stating, "He’s a good dancer, I guess, for TV, but if we talk about art? Like, creating art? He’s like, eh."
However, Savchenko later clarified his remarks to Page Six, stating they were from a professional dancer's perspective and not personal. He expressed respect for Bersten and looked forward to seeing him and Dewan perform.
Meanwhile, Val Chmerkovskiy has apologized for his social media post that referenced Will Smith's Oscar incident. He stated that he used poor judgment and did not intend for the reference to imply anything further, aiming to defend his wife, Jenna Johnson, after Inaba criticized her and partner Harry Shum Jr.'s performance. Chmerkovskiy expressed regret for Inaba being caught in the middle and stated his desire not to be a distraction for Dewan.
"Dancing With the Stars" airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams on Disney+.