Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy missed Tuesday’s live broadcast of “Dancing With the Stars” as he served a one-week suspension stemming from an online post referencing the 2022 Oscars slap.
The ABC ballroom competition briefly addressed the absence at the top of its “Dedication Night” episode. Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro informed viewers right away that professional Alan Bersten would be dancing alongside actress Jenna Dewan because Chmerkovskiy was away for the week, Page Six reported.
A makeshift pairing for Dedication Night
Dewan and Bersten took the floor for a Viennese waltz set to “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers, dedicating the routine to Dewan’s mother, Nancy Lee Bursch, who joined the pair on the dance floor. The temporary partners earned a strong score of 37 out of 40 from the judges.
During their pre-dance video package, Bersten described the arrangement as an unusual circumstance, telling Dewan he felt honored to step in and keep the spotlight centered on her and her mother. Dewan later thanked Bersten on social media for stepping into the role on short notice.
When assessing their performance, judge Carrie Ann Inaba praised Dewan’s resilience without explicitly naming Chmerkovskiy. “I know this journey has been a lot,” Inaba said, adding that the performance represented a breakthrough where Dewan appeared free and light. Co-host Julianne Hough also noted the emotional weight of the past week as the couple awaited their scores.
The dispute behind the suspension
The controversy started following the Oct. 13 episode, when Inaba cited an illegal lift during a samba performed by Chmerkovskiy’s wife, professional dancer Jenna Johnson, and her celebrity partner Harry Shum Jr. The judge read the rulebook definition from a piece of paper, a critique that reportedly left Johnson in tears.
Chmerkovskiy reacted on social media by posting a reference to actor Will Smith striking comedian Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards. “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” Chmerkovskiy wrote in a post on TikTok that was subsequently deleted, according to Page Six.
Production company BBC Studios moved quickly to bench the 40-year-old dancer. In an official statement confirmed by Deadline and the Daily Mail, producers stated that personnel well-being remains non-negotiable and labeled the dancer’s post inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards of the production.
Conflicting accounts emerged regarding how the disciplinary review began. TMZ reported that Inaba felt threatened and approached human resources, though an alternate source told the outlet that producers initiated the review on their own after spotting the post. An insider told E! News that Inaba submitted no formal human resources complaint prior to the disciplinary ruling.
Apologies and looking ahead
Over the weekend, Chmerkovskiy acknowledged his error in a public statement, stating he made a poor judgment call by leaning into an internet meme while instinctively defending his wife. He said Inaba did not deserve to be swept into the matter, confirming he reached out to her privately to apologize.
From the sidelines on Tuesday, Chmerkovskiy supported the team publicly. Writing on Bersten’s social media, he thanked the substitute dancer for doing an amazing job and encouraged viewers to vote for Dewan, Page Six reported.
Chmerkovskiy has completed his single-episode penalty and is slated to return to rehearsals and competition for next week’s broadcast.
