Minimal Mention of Chmerkovskiy's Absence
During the recent “Dedication Night” episode of Dancing With the Stars, the production team offered only a brief acknowledgment regarding the absence of professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy. Chmerkovskiy was temporarily removed from the program following off-screen tensions involving judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
At the start of the broadcast on Tuesday, October 20, co-host Alfonso Ribeiro addressed the situation directly but succinctly: “As you can see, Alan Bersten is with Jenna Dewan because Val is not with us this week.”
Support for the Remaining Contestant
Later in the evening, Alan Bersten, 32, commended his partner, Jenna Dewan, for her ability to maintain focus despite the abrupt change in professional guidance during rehearsals. “First and foremost, I know it’s a really unusual situation,” Bersten noted during their introductory segment. “But I feel so honored to step in and help you this week.”
Following their performance, the judges expressed their support. Carrie Ann Inaba, 58, remarked, “Jenna, I know this journey has been a lot. But you continue to come out here giving us all your heart, all your soul.” Fellow judge Derek Hough added, “Jenna, you’re just a class act. A class act.”
Context of the Controversy
The disciplinary action against Chmerkovskiy, 40, stemmed from a public dispute involving his wife, Jenna Johnson, and judge Carrie Ann Inaba. After Inaba critiqued a performance by Johnson and her partner Harry Shum Jr. earlier this month, Chmerkovskiy posted a meme referencing the 2022 Academy Awards incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock. The post was widely interpreted as an implicit threat of violence against Inaba.
A spokesperson for BBC Studios confirmed that Chmerkovskiy would be suspended for one week, stating: “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.”
Chmerkovskiy’s Apology
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 17, the dancer addressed his actions:
“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. Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was.”
He further apologized to Inaba and those affected by his behavior, expressing his desire to avoid becoming a distraction to the competition and his partner's hard work. Chmerkovskiy concluded by encouraging viewers to support the cast during their Dedication Night performances.