Val Chmerkovskiy Returns to 'Dancing With the Stars' After One-Week Suspension
The professional dancer was suspended after a social media post referencing Will Smith's Oscars slap was deemed inappropriate.
Val Chmerkovskiy has returned to "Dancing With the Stars" rehearsals and is set to participate in the upcoming Halloween Horror Movie Night episode, following a one-week suspension from the show. His dance partner, Jenna Dewan, shared a video of their reunion on Instagram Stories on Sunday.
The pair are preparing to perform an Argentine tango to the song "Uninvited," inspired by the movie "28 Weeks Later." Chmerkovskiy, who was absent from the previous week's broadcast, was replaced by pro dancer Alan Bersten, who partnered with Dewan.
Chmerkovskiy's suspension stemmed from a social media post on his TikTok Story, which many interpreted as a reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2023 Oscars. Chmerkovskiy had posted, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night," shortly after his wife, Jenna Johnson, received a low score from judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The post drew immediate backlash, and though it was later deleted, BBC Studios confirmed his one-week removal from the show, citing that his comment was "inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show."
This marked the first time in the show's history that a professional dancer was suspended.
In a statement released through his representative, Chmerkovskiy expressed regret for his "poor decision" and "bad judgment," explaining that his "instinct was to defend my wife." He clarified that his intention was not to allude to the Oscars incident but acknowledged that the reference could be misinterpreted. He specifically apologized to Inaba, stating she "certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment," and expressed a desire not to be a distraction for Dewan and the show's participants.
Sources close to the show indicated that Inaba was particularly upset by Chmerkovskiy's post, viewing it as a threat and demanding consequences. While Chmerkovskiy apologized directly to Inaba, it was reportedly not sufficient for the judge, leading producers to implement the one-week suspension. Insiders also suggested that the cast and crew were divided on the incident, with some feeling more severe action was warranted and others believing a reprimand would have sufficed.
Chmerkovskiy had previously apologized on Instagram, stating he "deeply regret[s]" his words and acknowledging his responsibility as a role model. Inaba responded to the controversy on her own Instagram, questioning the nature of the comments.
During the episode prior to his suspension, Inaba had critiqued Johnson and her partner Harry Shum Jr.'s performance, noting that it did not align with the samba's requirements and that a disallowed lift was included. Johnson appeared displeased with the critique, and Chmerkovskiy, seen in the background, seemed visibly angry. He later commented on a video of the moment, writing, "Put some respect on [my wife's] name. She's trippin' talking to her like that."