Val Chmerkovskiy Suspended From 'Dancing With the Stars' Over Social Media Post
Dancing With the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy has been suspended for one week after a since-deleted social media post that appeared to reference Will Smith's 2022 Oscars slap of Chris Rock, in response to judge Carrie Ann Inaba's critique of his wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson. BBC Studios, the show's production company, confirmed the suspension in a statement shared with NBC News and The Hollywood Reporter.
What sparked the controversy
The dispute began during the October 13 episode of the ABC competition, when Inaba criticized a samba performed by Johnson and her celebrity partner Harry Shum Jr., saying the choreography included a lift that is not permitted in the dance style, People reported. Johnson pushed back on air, and the tense exchange drew boos from the audience, according to USA Today. Chmerkovskiy then posted a since-deleted message reading: "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night" — a nod to Smith's character in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and his infamous onstage altercation with Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. Inaba replied on Instagram: "So this is what we are doing now?" USA Today reported.
The official statement and his apology
BBC Studios said: "The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing With the Stars is non-negotiable. Val's social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show. As a result, he will not participate in next week's show," according to NBC News. It is a one-week suspension, meaning he can return if his celebrity partner Jenna Dewan earns enough votes, USA Today reported.
Chmerkovskiy apologized publicly, saying: "In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme to 'keep my wife's name' out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention," according to USA Today. He added that Inaba did not deserve to be caught in the middle of his bad judgment, and People reported that he had also reached out to her privately.
What it means for the show
His celebrity partner, actress Jenna Dewan, performed with eliminated pro Alan Bersten for Dedication Night on October 20, dancing a Viennese waltz dedicated to her mother, USA Today and People reported. People also confirmed that the suspension was not the result of an HR complaint filed by Inaba, as some outlets had speculated — Chmerkovskiy's post triggered an investigation by BBC Studios under its own protocols.
Sources: NBC News; USA Today; People; The Hollywood Reporter; Just Jared.