Val Chmerkovskiy Suspended After Threatening Joke Directed at Carrie Ann Inaba

The friction began October 13 following a performance by Jenna Johnson and Harry Shum Jr. Inaba penalized the duo for a lift she deemed against the competition's rules. Chmerkovskiy, Johnson’s husband, responded on TikTok by invoking Will Smith’s physical confrontation with Chris Rock, warning Inaba to "put some respect on her name."

Inaba escalated the matter to BBC Productions, stating she felt threatened by the comparison. The studio launched an investigation, concluding that Chmerkovskiy’s conduct violated the show's professional standards. While the dancer later issued a public apology, acknowledging his reference was a "poor decision" made in a misguided attempt to defend his wife, the fallout continues to disrupt the ballroom. Alan Bersten has stepped in to partner with Jenna Dewan for the upcoming Dedication Night, a change that has already drawn sharp criticism regarding technique and quality from fellow pro Gleb Savchenko.