Val Chmerkovskiy Suspended From DWTS For Oscars Slap Joke, Jenna Dewan Gets New Partner
The 'Dancing With The Stars' pro faces a one-week suspension after a social media post referencing the Will Smith incident prompted backlash.
Jenna Dewan will be dancing with Alan Bersten on "Dancing With The Stars" following the suspension of her original partner, Val Chmerkovskiy. The professional dancer was removed from the upcoming week of the competition after making a social media post that referenced the incident where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars. BBC Studios confirmed the suspension, stating Chmerkovskiy's post was "inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show."
Chmerkovskiy's post, shared to his TikTok Story and later deleted, joked, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night." This was widely interpreted as a reference to Smith's infamous outburst at the 2023 Academy Awards. The post ignited backlash, with many fans and media outlets criticizing the joke.
Dewan and Bersten are set to perform a Viennese Waltz to "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers for Dedication Night on October 20. Dewan plans to honor her mother with the performance.
In a statement, Chmerkovskiy apologized for his "poor decision" and "bad judgment," explaining that his instinct was to defend his wife, Jenna Johnson, after she received a low score from judge Carrie Ann Inaba. He stated he did not intend for the reference to imply anything beyond his desire to protect his wife's name. Chmerkovskiy expressed regret that Inaba was caught in the middle of his misjudgment and vowed to do better.
Sources close to Chmerkovskiy told the Daily Mail that the pro dancer would "never do anything violent" and that his comment was intended as "trash talk, like sports." However, insiders close to the show indicated that Inaba was "furious" and considered the post a threat, wanting both an apology and consequences. While Chmerkovskiy did apologize to Inaba directly, it was reportedly not enough for the judge, leading to the producers' decision to suspend him.
This marks the first time in the show's history that a professional dancer has been suspended. Chmerkovskiy stated he would be watching and cheering on his castmates during Dedication Night.
The controversy arose after Chmerkovskiy was visibly upset during a recent episode when Inaba critiqued Johnson and her partner Harry Shum Jr.'s performance, particularly their inclusion of a lift, which is not permitted in a samba. Following the critique, Chmerkovskiy posted his now-deleted TikTok.
Dewan had previously been partnered with Chmerkovskiy, while Bersten competed earlier in the season with Giada de Laurentiis before their elimination. Johnson, Chmerkovskiy's wife, reportedly expressed concern that the situation might negatively impact their chances of winning the competition.