Val Chmerkovskiy Suspended From Dancing With The Stars Over Social Media Post

The trouble began after Inaba penalized Jenna Johnson and her partner, Harry Shum Jr., for performing an illegal lift during their samba routine on the show’s Super Bowl Night. Chmerkovskiy responded on social media by posting, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” The comment was widely interpreted as an allusion to Will Smith’s physical confrontation with Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.

BBC Studios issued a firm rebuke, stating that the post did not align with the production’s values or the expected standards for those connected to the show. While the company stopped short of labeling the remark an explicit physical threat, they emphasized that the well-being of the ballroom staff remains non-negotiable. Chmerkovskiy later issued a public apology, acknowledging he had contacted Inaba privately to express his regret for the lapse in judgment. As a result of the suspension, his current partner, Jenna Dewan, will perform with Alan Bersten for the upcoming broadcast.