Val Chmerkovskiy Returns to 'Dancing with the Stars' After One-Week Suspension for Will Smith Slap Joke

Val Chmerkovskiy has returned to rehearsals for "Dancing with the Stars" after a one-week suspension, following a social media post that alluded to Will Smith's infamous Oscars slap. His celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, performed with Alan Bersten during the show's Dedication Night episode.

Chmerkovskiy's absence was subtly noted by co-host Alfonso Ribeiro, who stated that Val was not with them that week. Dewan and Bersten earned a score of 37 out of 40 for their waltz to "Unchained Melody."

The suspension stemmed from a since-deleted social media post Chmerkovskiy shared after judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized his wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson, and her partner Harry Shum Jr.'s samba performance. Inaba had noted a lift and suggested Johnson needed to challenge herself more. Chmerkovskiy responded on TikTok, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night," referencing the 2022 Oscars incident where Smith slapped Chris Rock.

Chmerkovskiy's remark drew attention, and Inaba publicly addressed it on Instagram. He subsequently issued a public apology to Inaba, stating, "I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post." He explained that his instinct was to defend his wife, but he made a poor decision to reference a meme without considering its broader implications. He acknowledged that Inaba "certainly didn't deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was."

Chmerkovskiy confirmed he reached out to Inaba directly and personally to apologize. He is expected to rejoin Dewan for the show's upcoming Halloween-themed episode.

On Tuesday, Chmerkovskiy was photographed running errands in Studio City, appearing to be in a somber mood. He was dressed casually in a cream long-sleeved top, camouflage shorts, and running shoes, wearing wireless earphones and carrying his phone.