Dancing With the Stars Benches Val Chmerkovskiy Over Inappropriate Slap Joke

The television show "Dancing With the Stars" is benching dancer Val Chmerkovskiy for next week's show following an inappropriate social media post about judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

The Joke And Apology

During the October 13 episode of the show, Carrie Ann Inaba criticized Jenna Johnson, who is married to Chmerkovskiy, for using a lift in her routine and read the definition of a lift to her. Following this, Chmerkovskiy posted a TikTok story stating that people almost saw the "Fresh Prince" enter the ballroom, referencing Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. Although the post was quickly deleted, Inaba saw it and commented on her Instagram to thank the media for alerting her. Chmerkovskiy later issued a public apology on his Instagram Story on Thursday, stating he reached out to Inaba personally and recognized the need to think before posting.

Show Response And Partner Update

BBC Studios issued a statement on Saturday noting that the well-being of everyone who works on the show is non-negotiable and that Chmerkovskiy's post did not reflect expected standards. As a result, he will not participate in the upcoming episode. Meanwhile, Jenna Dewan will still dance at dedication week and will be paired with Alan Bersten, who was previously eliminated in week three. Dewan will perform a Viennese waltz to "Unchained Melody" dedicated to her mother, with sources praising her professionalism.

Context

Reality dance competitions often navigate backstage tensions and social media fallout between contestants, professional dancers, and judges. Public statements by production companies like BBC Studios typically emphasize a safe workplace environment when online disputes occur among cast members.