BBC Studios, the production company behind “Dancing With The Stars,” confirmed on Oct. 17 that professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy will be suspended for one week. The decision follows a TikTok post that referenced the 2022 Oscars altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock.
Chmerkovskiy, who is currently partnered with actress Jenna Dewan, posted a status that read, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” a line many interpreted as a nod to Smith’s infamous remark. The post was later deleted after the controversy grew.
Official response
In a statement to NBC News, BBC Studios emphasized that the “well‑being of everyone who works on Dancing With The Stars is non‑negotiable.” The statement added, “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’s apology
Chmerkovskiy addressed the suspension on his Instagram story, saying he “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.” He also expressed regret that judge Carrie Ann Inaba was caught in the fallout, writing, “Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was.” The dancer sent well‑wishes to Inaba, Jenna Johnson, and the rest of the DWTS family.
Impact on the show
With Chmerkovskiy unavailable, Dewan will perform with pro Alan Bersten in a routine dedicated to her mother. The suspension comes after a heated exchange on the Oct. 13 episode, where Inaba criticized Johnson for incorporating a lift into her samba—a move traditionally prohibited in Latin dance.
Inaba has not publicly responded to the apology or suspension. The incident highlights the heightened scrutiny of public figures’ social‑media activity and the show’s commitment to maintaining a respectful environment for its cast and crew.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
