‘DWTS’ Suspends Val Chmerkovskiy Over Will Smith Slap Post, Brings Back Eliminated Pro Alan Bersten to Replace Him
‘DWTS’ Suspends Val Chmerkovskiy Over Will Smith Slap Post, Brings Back Eliminated Pro Alan Bersten to Replace Him
Mija MarkovicSun, October 18, 2026 at 7:01 PM UTC
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Image Credit: MLM IMAGES Los Angeles / Shutterstock.
Val Chmerkovskiy will miss the October 20 episode of Dancing With the Stars after BBC Studios suspended him over a social media reference to Will Smith's Oscars slap.
His celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, will continue with Alan Bersten, Entertainment Weekly confirmed. Bersten and chef Giada De Laurentiis were eliminated from the competition on September 22.
The decision, announced October 17, marks the first suspension of a professional dancer in the show's history, according to PEOPLE. It covers one episode.
In a statement published by TheWrap, BBC Studios called the post inappropriate and said it fell short of the show's standards. “The well-being of everyone who works on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is non-negotiable,” the producer said.
Val Says He Was Trying to Defend His Wife
Chmerkovskiy, 40, said he had been trying to defend his wife, fellow professional dancer Jenna Johnson, following criticism from judge Carrie Ann Inaba. In his response to the suspension, he acknowledged that he had invoked a meme about keeping his wife's name out of the conversation without considering its other implications.
He said he had not intended to suggest physical retaliation and expressed regret over the effect his poor judgment had on Inaba.
Chmerkovskiy also asked viewers to support the judge, Dewan and the rest of the cast during Dedication Night. He said he did not want the controversy to distract from his partner's work and would watch the broadcast and cheer everyone on.
A Samba Critique Led to the Deleted ‘Fresh Prince’ Post
Johnson and Harry Shum Jr. earned 33 out of 40 for their October 13 samba to Usher's “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris during Super Bowl Night.
Inaba praised the entertainment value but wanted more samba content. When she also identified a lift, Johnson asked for clarification, prompting the judge to read a definition involving both feet leaving the floor with a partner's assistance.
Johnson later told Extra that she had understood the restriction to apply between the competing partners. Two troupe dancers had helped lift Shum during their routine. She said she respected Inaba's role and would take the feedback.
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The following day, Chmerkovskiy criticized the way Inaba had addressed Johnson, then posted: “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” He subsequently deleted the message.
The reference drew comparisons to Smith striking Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards after the comedian joked about Jada Pinkett Smith.
Inaba Responded Before Val Apologized
On October 15, Inaba shared coverage of the remark on Instagram and asked, “So this is what we are doing now?” She also thanked the outlets that brought it to her attention.
Chmerkovskiy apologized on Instagram Stories later that day, saying he had contacted Inaba directly. He acknowledged that his words reached people beyond the show's cast and crew and promised to pause before posting, recognizing his responsibility as a public figure.
His brother, former DWTS professional Maksim Chmerkovskiy, separately challenged the lift ruling on that day's episode of The Viall Files. He argued that the rule concerned the competing couple rather than background dancers, while agreeing with Inaba that the routine needed more samba content.
Shum used his own October 16 Instagram post to encourage kindness, reminding viewers that the competition was supposed to be joyful. He included individual messages praising his fellow celebrity contestants.
Dewan's Partner Change Follows a Top-Scoring Paso Doble
Dewan and Chmerkovskiy's paso doble to Lady Gaga's “Bad Romance” earned four nines during Super Bowl Night. Their 36 points tied them with Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach at the top of the leaderboard.
Inaba called Dewan's performance the first touchdown of the night. Guest judge Joe Buck said he could not distinguish the celebrity from the professional while watching the pair dance.
For Dedication Night, Dewan is scheduled to honor her mother, Nancy, with a Viennese waltz to the Righteous Brothers' “Unchained Melody,” according to ABC.
Two-time Mirrorball champion Kym Johnson will return as guest judge for the 10 remaining couples. The episode airs at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with streaming on Hulu the following day.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
