Val Chmerkovskiy Thanks Alan Bersten for Filling In Amid Suspension

Val Chmerkovskiy, a professional dancer on "Dancing With the Stars," has expressed his gratitude to fellow pro Alan Bersten for stepping in to dance with his partner, Jenna Dewan, during his one-week suspension. Chmerkovskiy commented on Bersten’s Instagram post on Tuesday, stating, "Thank you for stepping in and doing such an amazing job." He added that Dewan "looks so good and most importantly happy" and humorously noted Bersten as his "new favorite follow."

Chmerkovskiy also used his Instagram Stories to thank Bersten, writing, "Thanks ❤️," and encouraged his followers to vote for Dewan by texting "Jenna to 21523 Ten Times."

The suspension for Chmerkovskiy, 40, stemmed from a controversial social media post on Oct. 17 that referenced Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap of Chris Rock. The post was made after judge Carrie Ann Inaba delivered harsh feedback to Chmerkovskiy's wife, Jenna Johnson, and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr., for including a lift in their routine.

Chmerkovskiy’s initial comment on TikTok read, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” He later deleted the remark. Inaba responded to the incident via her Instagram Stories, questioning, “So this is what we are doing now?”

Chmerkovskiy was subsequently suspended for his statement, which a BBC Studios producer deemed “inappropriate.” He later apologized, admitting he made a "poor decision" to reference the Oscars moment. He stated that Inaba did not deserve to be caught in the middle of his bad judgment and expressed a desire not to become a distraction during an important week for Dewan's performance.

Alan Bersten was officially named as Dewan's partner for the "Dedication Night" show following Chmerkovskiy's suspension.