A Change in Partners for Dedication Night
As the competition on Dancing With the Stars intensifies, Jenna Dewan has secured a new partner for the upcoming "Dedication Night" on October 20. Following the sudden removal of her professional partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, Dewan will take the stage alongside 32-year-old DWTS pro Alan Bersten, who was previously eliminated from the current season.
For this significant performance, the 45-year-old dancer intends to pay tribute to her mother, Nancy, by performing a Viennese waltz to the classic track “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers.
The Reason Behind Chmerkovskiy’s Absence
The shuffle in the lineup occurred after it was announced on Saturday, October 17, that 40-year-old Chmerkovskiy had been benched for the episode. The suspension followed controversial, now-deleted remarks he made regarding judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
The tension began on the October 13 episode when Inaba critiqued a move performed by Jenna Johnson, Chmerkovskiy’s wife, during her routine with partner Harry Shum Jr. Defending his wife, Chmerkovskiy posted a message on social media that referenced the infamous 2022 Oscars slap between Will Smith and Chris Rock, which was perceived as a threat of physical violence toward the judge.
Apology and Industry Reaction
Days after the incident, Chmerkovskiy issued a formal apology to Inaba, acknowledging that his defensive reaction was misguided.
“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,” Chmerkovskiy stated. “Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was.”
He further expressed his hope that his actions would not overshadow the hard work of his partner, Jenna Dewan, noting, “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.”
Competitor Harry Shum Jr. also weighed in on the situation, emphasizing the need for positivity. In an Instagram post, he praised Dewan’s resilience and character, stating: “Watching you take criticism with grace and just laying it all out on the dance floor each week, I go: ‘That’s the Jenna I know and love.’”
Dancing With the Stars continues to air on ABC and Disney+ every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.