The ballroom is heating up with real-world tension. In a dramatic shakeup ahead of this week’s live broadcast of Dancing with the Stars, fan-favorite professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy has been officially suspended for one week following an explosive social media comment directed at longtime judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
As confirmed by production house BBC Studios, Chmerkovskiy will not appear on the dance floor for the upcoming episode. Consequently, his celebrity partner, actress Jenna Dewan (The Rookie), has been re-paired with pro dancer Alan Bersten for her next routine.
The disciplinary action stems from the fallout of last week’s “Super Bowl Night” episode, which saw a tense exchange between Inaba and Chmerkovskiy’s wife, fellow pro dancer Jenna Johnson. During judging, Inaba sternly penalized Johnson and her partner, actor Harry Shum Jr., over an alleged illegal “lift” during their samba, even going so far as to read the official rulebook definition of a lift directly to Johnson on live television.
Defending his wife following the broadcast, Chmerkovskiy posted a now-deleted status update on TikTok that quickly sent shockwaves through the community.
“You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” Chmerkovskiy wrote, in a screenshot obtained and published by Page Six.
The comment was widely interpreted as an allusion to the 2022 Academy Awards, when actor Will Smith walked onto the stage and physically struck presenter Chris Rock following a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Recognizing the severity of the backlash, Chmerkovskiy issued a formal public apology on Instagram, acknowledging that his attempt to stand up for his spouse crossed a line regarding professional conduct.
“My comment was reactive, inappropriate, and completely out of line,” Chmerkovskiy expressed in a statement addressing the suspension. “I was emotional seeing my wife criticized in that manner, but that is no excuse to make light of violence or disrespect Carrie Ann, who has been a staple of our ballroom family for two decades. I accept the show’s decision completely and will use this week off to reflect.”
For Dewan and her new interim partner, Bersten, the unexpected pairing means embarking on an intense crash course to master their routine before the studio lights go up. While temporary pro swaps are rare in the long-running series’ history, all eyes will certainly be on the judges’ table and the dance floor to see how the ballroom recovers from one of its most talked-about off-camera scandals.
