Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy has issued a public and personal apology to Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The apology followed a controversial social media post that referenced Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscars slap. The online exchange unfolded after Inaba critiqued a routine performed by Chmerkovskiy’s wife, fellow pro dancer Jenna Johnson, during the live broadcast.
The Controversial TikTok Post and Backlash
The dispute began on Tuesday’s Super Bowl Night episode of Dancing With the Stars, season 35. Jenna Johnson and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr., performed a samba to Usher’s hit track “Yeah!” Following the routine, judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized the choreography for lacking content and penalized the pair for an illegal lift. Inaba pulled out a prepared definition of a lift to read aloud during the live broadcast, while Johnson and Shum Jr. defended their creative risks.
Following the broadcast, Val Chmerkovskiy took to TikTok on Wednesday to defend his wife. He posted a since-deleted story that read, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” Viewers and online commentators interpreted the remark as a reference to Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. The post remained live for at least six hours before being removed.
Upon seeing a screenshot of the post shared by entertainment news outlets, Inaba reacted publicly on Instagram. She wrote, “So this is what we are doing now?” alongside screenshots of the commentary and an image pairing Smith with Chmerkovskiy.
Val Chmerkovskiy’s Public Apology
Facing heavy criticism and calls from fans for disciplinary action, Chmerkovskiy shared a formal statement via his Instagram Story on Thursday, October 15, to address the situation directly.
“I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post,” Chmerkovskiy wrote. “I have reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly and personally, and I also want to apologize publicly as I understand my words affect so many outside of our internal DWTS family. I should have never made the reference that I did and I deeply regret it.”
The three-time Dancing With the Stars winner acknowledged his platform and the responsibility that comes with being a role model. He noted that he needs to pause and think more carefully before publishing content online to ensure it aligns with his values.
“I recognize that I am in a fortunate position to have a platform and to be a role model to some, and I need to treat that with more care by actively pausing to think before I post to ensure what I am sharing aligns with who I am, and who I want to be for you all,” Chmerkovskiy continued. “I am truly sorry to Carrie Ann, and everyone who I hurt with my careless post. I will do better moving forward.”
Current Status on Dancing With the Stars
As the competition continues on ABC and Disney+, neither ABC nor Carrie Ann Inaba has issued a further public statement regarding Chmerkovskiy’s apology. Johnson and Shum Jr. remain safe in the competition following their samba routine, while production continues its regular weekly broadcast schedule.
