Val Chmerkovskiy will miss the next episode of Dancing With the Stars after producers suspended him over a social media post referencing Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap.
Val Chmerkovskiy has been suspended for one episode of Dancing With the Stars after a social media post about judge Carrie Ann Inaba prompted disciplinary action from the show’s producers.
The decision, announced Saturday, Oct. 17, means Chmerkovskiy will miss the upcoming Dedication Night episode. BBC Studios, which produces the competition, said the post did not meet the standards expected of people associated with the program.
The controversy began after the Oct. 13 episode, when Inaba criticized a routine performed by Jenna Johnson and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr. Her feedback included an explanation of the rules governing dance lifts.
Chmerkovskiy, who is married to Johnson, subsequently posted a message referencing Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscars confrontation with Chris Rock. Smith slapped Rock during the ceremony after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The dancer’s now-deleted post read, “You almost saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” The reference drew criticism because it invoked physical violence in response to a judge’s professional feedback.
Chmerkovskiy apologized publicly on Oct. 15 and said he had contacted Inaba directly. In a statement shared Oct. 17, he acknowledged making a poor decision while trying to defend his wife and said he had not considered the broader implications of the reference.
He also expressed regret that Inaba had been caught in the middle of the controversy, adding that he did not want to distract from the upcoming episode or his dance partner’s work.
Jenna Dewan to Perform With Alan Bersten
Jenna Dewan will continue competing during Dedication Night, with professional dancer Alan Bersten stepping in as her partner.
Bersten was eliminated earlier in the season. Dewan is scheduled to perform a Viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody,” dedicated to her mother.
The suspension marks the first time a professional dancer has been suspended from the series, according to the supplied reporting. Chmerkovskiy has appeared on the show since its second season.
Sources: PEOPLE; Variety
