Val Chmerkovskiy Returns to DWTS After Suspension, Apologizes for 'Chaos'

Val Chmerkovskiy rejoined his "Dancing With the Stars" partner Jenna Dewan for the show's "Horror Movie Night" episode, one week after his suspension for inappropriate social media conduct.

"We are back together. I am so sorry for all the chaos. You did not sign up for that, and I feel awful," Chmerkovskiy told Dewan during their intro package, referencing his social media posts that defended his wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson, against judge Carrie Ann Inaba's criticism.

Dewan responded with forgiveness, stating, "I forgive you," before embracing Chmerkovskiy. The pair then performed an Argentine tango to a cover of "Uninvited" by Damned Anthem and Kendra Dantes, inspired by the film "28 Weeks Later." They received a score of 37 out of 40 from the judges, bringing their two-week total to 74 out of 80.

Last week, while Chmerkovskiy was suspended, Dewan danced with professional dancer Alan Bersten. Their Viennese waltz to "Unchained Melody" earned a 37 out of 40, with Inaba calling it a "breakthrough" performance for Dewan. The dance was dedicated to Dewan's mother.

Chmerkovskiy's suspension stemmed from social media posts made after Inaba's critique of Johnson and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr., during "Super Bowl Night." Inaba had identified an "illegal" lift in their samba, a point Chmerkovskiy referenced in a TikTok post comparing the situation to Will Smith's Oscars incident. He also defended Johnson, stating, "Puts some respect on her name. Shes trippin talking to her like that."

Inaba acknowledged Chmerkovskiy's posts, writing on social media, "So this is what we are doing now?" BBC Studios later issued a statement confirming Chmerkovskiy's suspension, calling his posts "inappropriate and [not] reflect[ing] the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show."

Chmerkovskiy issued a public apology, stating that he made a "poor decision to reference a meme … without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply." He expressed regret that Inaba was caught in the middle of his "bad judgment" and accepted the suspension to avoid becoming a "distraction" on "Dedication Night."

The show acknowledged Chmerkovskiy's absence at the beginning of the previous week's episode. Chmerkovskiy expressed gratitude to Bersten for filling in and later confirmed his return to rehearsals for "Horror Movie Night."

Inaba commented on the situation Tuesday, stating that she had refrained from discussing it out of "professional courtesy" to the remaining competitors. She also noted that she and Johnson had resolved their differences, saying, "two women worked through the moment."

"Dancing With the Stars" airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming on Hulu the following day.