Val Chmerkovskiy Benched From DWTS Over Carrie Ann Comment
Dancing With the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy will sit out the next live show following his controversial comment about judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
“The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable,” a spokesperson for BBC Studios said in a Saturday, October 17, statement shared with Us. “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.”
Chmerkovskiy, 40, did not publicly address the show’s decision at the time of publication. Us has reached out for comment.
Tensions rose during Super Bowl Night earlier this month after Inaba, 58, called out Chmerkovskiy’s wife and fellow pro, Jenna Johnson, for a lift in her samba with Harry Shum Jr. Johnson, 32, appeared surprised by the critique, prompting Inaba to read an exact definition of what constitutes for a lift.
“A lift is — I just need to say it — any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner,” she said.
While Johnson insisted she understood Inaba’s perspective and would take the feedback, her husband quickly came to her defense.
“She’s trippin talking to her like that,” he wrote in the comments section of a TikTok video about the routine.
In a separate social media message — which was later deleted — Chmerkovskiy added, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” The comment was in reference to when Will Smith slapped host Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, famously shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.”
Inaba caught wind of the snide remark, firing back in an Instagram post of her own. “So this is what we are doing now?” she wrote on Thursday, October 15.
As the back and forth went viral, some fans called for DWTS to take action. Chmerkovskiy eventually issued a public apology via his Instagram Story on Thursday.
“I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post,” he 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 our internal DWTS family. I should never have made the reference that I did and I deeply regret it. 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 I hurt with my careless post. I will do better moving forward. ❤️.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
