Minimal Mention of Chmerkovskiy's Absence
During the most recent episode of Dancing With the Stars, titled "Dedication Night," the production team opted for a brief acknowledgement regarding the absence of professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy. Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro addressed the situation at the start of the broadcast, stating, "As you can see, Alan Bersten is with Jenna Dewan because Val is not with us this week."
Focus Shifts to Performance
Following the brief announcement, the show pivoted to the partnership between Jenna Dewan and her substitute partner, Alan Bersten. Bersten, 32, expressed his commitment to supporting Dewan during this unexpected transition. In the pre-performance segment, he noted, "First and foremost, I know it’s a really unusual situation. But I feel so honored to step in and help you this week."
The judges remained focused on the performance itself, offering praise for Dewan's resilience. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba, 58, remarked, "Jenna, I know this journey has been a lot. But you continue to come out here giving us all your heart, all your soul." Her colleague, Derek Hough, added, "Jenna, you’re just a class act. A class act."
The Origin of the Controversy
The suspension stems from a conflict that began when Inaba critiqued a performance by Jenna Johnson, who is married to Chmerkovskiy. Following the critique, Chmerkovskiy, 40, posted a meme on social media referencing the 2022 Oscars incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock. The post was widely interpreted by fans as implying potential violence toward Inaba.
In response to the backlash, Chmerkovskiy issued a formal apology, stating:
«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. Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was.»
He further added his regrets regarding the impact on his dance partner and the show, concluding, "I am truly sorry to Carrie Ann, and everyone I hurt with my careless post. I will do better moving forward."
Official Stance on Suspension
A spokesperson for BBC Studios addressed the decision to sideline the dancer, emphasizing that the standards of the production must be upheld. "The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable," the representative stated. "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."