Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy has been suspended from Dancing with the Stars for one week. This disciplinary action follows a controversial TikTok post that appeared to reference Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Academy Awards slap. Production company BBC Studios announced the suspension on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, marking a historic moment for the ABC competition series.
The controversy unfolded after the show’s themed “Super Bowl Night.” During the episode, judge Carrie Ann Inaba sharply criticized a samba routine performed by Chmerkovskiy’s wife, fellow professional dancer Jenna Johnson, and her celebrity partner, actor Harry Shum Jr. Inaba took issue with a lift included in the choreography, read the official show rule aloud on live television, and scored the pair an eight.
Chmerkovskiy immediately voiced his frustration online. In a since-deleted TikTok Story, he shared a mirror selfie and wrote, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” Viewers widely interpreted the remark as a reference to Will Smith storming the Oscar stage to slap comedian Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.
BBC Studios Issues One-Week Suspension
Intense online backlash followed, prompting BBC Studios to intervene. The company stated that Chmerkovskiy’s social media post violated the program’s strict workplace standards.
“The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable,” BBC Studios said in an official statement. “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.”
Because of the suspension, Chmerkovskiy will not perform alongside his celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, on the upcoming live episode. Dewan has been made aware of the situation. She is scheduled to dance with pro dancer Alan Bersten for “Dedication Night,” performing a routine dedicated to her mother.
Val Chmerkovskiy Issues Public and Private Apologies
Chmerkovskiy initially defended his reaction in a comment under a video clip of the judging. He wrote, “Put some respect on [my wife’s] name. She’s trippin’ talking to her like that.” However, after facing severe criticism from fans and viewers, the pro dancer deleted the posts and issued multiple apologies.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, Chmerkovskiy shared a statement on Instagram expressing deep regret for his actions.
“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.”
Following his suspension announcement on Saturday, Chmerkovskiy released an additional statement through his representative:
- The Motivation: “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.”
- Impact on Judge Inaba: “Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was.”
- Focus on Partner: “The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is putting in.”
Carrie Ann Inaba and Cast Reactions
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba took notice of the social media post and addressed it on her Instagram account. She shared a screenshot of news coverage and wrote, “So this is what we are doing now?” She also thanked media outlets for bringing the post to her attention.
Meanwhile, other cast members have spoken out to encourage positivity and kindness amid the ballroom drama. Harry Shum Jr. took to Instagram to share supportive notes about his fellow competitors. He urged fans to remember that the program is ultimately a joyous dance show meant to celebrate hard work.
Dancing with the Stars will air its next live episode on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+. The show is expected to address or navigate the temporary lineup changes during the broadcast.
