‘DWTS’ suspension: What really led to Val Chmerkovskiy’s absence?

Val Chmerkovskiy’s ‘DWTS’ suspension followed an inappropriate post, not an HR complaint by Carrie Ann Inaba

Val Chmerkovskiy’s suspension from Dancing with the Stars was not the result of a human resources complaint filed by judge Carrie Ann Inaba, according to a report by PEOPLE.

The professional dancer, 40, confirmed on October 17 that he would miss the October 20 episode following an “inappropriate” social media post referencing Inaba’s criticism of his wife, Jenna Johnson.

The controversy began after Inaba, 58, commented on Johnson’s performance during the October 13 episode. Chmerkovskiy subsequently shared a TikTok status that has since been deleted, alluding to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards in defence of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

In the post, Chmerkovskiy wrote that viewers “almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom”, referencing Smith’s role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

PEOPLE reported that the suspension followed an investigation by BBC Studios, the production company behind Dancing with the Stars, after Chmerkovskiy publicly apologised for his remarks. The action was taken under the studio’s protocols rather than in response to an HR complaint from Inaba.

On October 17, Chmerkovskiy explained that his initial intention had been to defend his wife but acknowledged that his choice of reference was inappropriate.

“Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was,” he said in his statement.

BBC Studios also addressed the incident, describing the post as inappropriate and stating that it did not reflect the standards expected of people associated with the show. The company added that the well-being of everyone working on the programme was a priority.

Chmerkovskiy’s absence from the October 20 episode means former professional dancer Alan Bersten will partner Johnson for a Viennese waltz during Dedication Night.

Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8pm ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the following day.