First Suspension in Dancing With the Stars History: Val Chmerkovskiy Benched One Week Over Oscars Slap Post, Sits Out Dedication Night Tonight
ABC's Dancing with the Stars has handed down the first suspension of a professional dancer in the show's history in its 35th season. According to People, pro Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended for one week by producer BBC Studios after posting a social media message referencing the Oscars slap, and he will sit out the "Dedication Night" episode airing Tuesday, October 20. His celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, will instead dance with pro Alan Bersten.
The dispute began on the October 13 "Super Bowl Night" episode. Chmerkovskiy's wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson, performed a samba to Usher's "Yeah!" with her celebrity partner Harry Shum Jr. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba praised the routine's entertainment value but criticized its lack of traditional samba content and pointed out a lift, which is prohibited in traditional ballroom and Latin styles, reading the show's official definition of a lift aloud from a piece of paper. On October 14, Chmerkovskiy posted, in a message later deleted, "You almost saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night," alongside a photo of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.
BBC Studios said in a statement: "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." People reported it is the first time a pro has been suspended in the show's history. Chmerkovskiy apologized publicly on October 15, saying he had personally reached out to Inaba to apologize directly: "I am truly sorry to Carrie Ann, and everyone who I hurt with my careless post." In a further Instagram statement on October 17, he wrote: "In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme... Carrie Ann certainly didn't deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and hate that she was." He said he would be watching and cheering everyone on from home.
On Inaba's side, Page Six reported on October 20 that Inaba went to human resources to complain about the post; her representative did not respond to Page Six's request for comment. A source close to the production told Page Six that Chmerkovskiy is expected to return next week, that he was grateful to Bersten for stepping in, and that he sent Dewan his support.
On Tuesday's Dedication Night, Jenna Dewan will perform a Viennese waltz to "Unchained Melody" with Alan Bersten, dedicated to her mother, Nancy. Bersten was eliminated in week three with his partner Giada De Laurentiis. Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Jenna Dewan 2026年7月25日出席 San Diego Comic-Con。Kevin Paul 摄，CC BY 4.0，维基共享资源。Photo: Jenna Dewan at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, 2026. Photo by Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
