Dancing With The Stars fans won’t be seeing Val Chmerkovskiy dance with his partner Jenna Dewan this week. The long-time pro and fan favorite dancer has been suspended from the competition after he made an inappropriate comment in regard to one of the show’s judges, Carrie Ann Inaba.
During the October 13 episode of DWTS, Carrie Ann had some harsh criticism for Val’s wife, Jenna Johnson, and her partner, Harry Shum Jr. When Johnson questioned Inaba’s claim of a lift, the judge got out the official rules and read straight from them with a forceful tone in her voice.
Why Did Val Chmerkovskiy Get Suspended From Dancing With The Stars?
Even fellow judge Derek Hough was taken aback by the interaction, claiming he felt like he had been scolded. Jenna graciously accepted the criticism, but behind the scenes, it was reported that she was upset, leaving Val to become angry. Eventually, Val took to social media to share his frustration, per PEOPLE.
The pro dancer shared a post that read, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” Many believed this to be in reference to Will Smith storming the stage at the 2022 Oscars and slapping host Chris Rock across the face when he made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Val also defended Jenna in the comments section of a social media post that highlighted his reaction to his wife’s scores for the night. “Puts some respect on her name. Shes trippin talking to her like that,” he wrote.
Chmerkovskiy Issued A Public Apology
When Carrie Ann Inaba saw Val Chmerkovskiy’s social media post, she shared it to her own account with the caption, “So this is what we’re doing now?” Later that day, he issued a public apology to the longtime Dancing With The Stars judge.
“I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post,” he said. “I have reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly and personally, and I also want to apologize publicly as I understand my words affect so many outside of our internal DWTS family.”
Val continued, “I am truly sorry to Carrie Ann, and everyone who I hurt with my careless post. I will do better moving forward.” “Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was,” he added.
How Long Is Val Suspended From DWTS?
Although Val was reprimanded for his comments regarding Carrie Ann’s criticism of Jenna and Harry, his suspension won’t last long. The dancer is only serving a one-week suspension and will be back to dance with Jenna Dewan next week if she can make it through this week without her partner.
In Chmerkovskiy’s absence, Dewan will dance with pro dancer, Alan Bersten. The dancer previously partnered with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis during season 35 before they were eliminated in week 2.
This week’s DWTS theme is Dedication Night, where the stars will perform dances in honor of someone important in their lives. Dewan and Bersten will perform a Viennese waltz to The Righteous Brothers song “Unchained Melody” in honor of Dewan’s mother, Nancy.
Embed from Getty ImagesHas Anyone Been Suspended From DWTS Before?
Val Chmerkovskiy’s suspension from Dancing With The Stars is certainly a surprise. No one else has ever served a suspension for any type of misconduct in the past.
However, now that Val has become the first pro to find himself on the wrong side of a consequence, others can surely expect a similar situation if they cross the line.
“The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable,” BBC Studios said in a statement obtained following the suspension. “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.”
