Why Val Chmerkovskiy Was Benched From DWTS After Carrie Ann Inaba Controversy

A one-line TikTok story has cost Val Chmerkovskiy his spot on the Dancing With the Stars floor for a week. BBC Studios, the show’s production company, announced on Saturday, October 17, that he will sit out the next episode over a joke about judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The show says it has never suspended a pro dancer before, so a social media post has become front-page entertainment news.

Val Chmerkovskiy’s DWTS Suspension at a Glance

Detail	What We Know
Who	Val Chmerkovskiy, 40, partner of Jenna Dewan
Why	A deleted post that many outlets read as a Will Smith Oscars slap reference
Penalty	One episode: Dedication Night, Tuesday, October 20
Replacement	Alan Bersten partners Dewan
Apology	Instagram Story, October 15

What Did Val Say About Carrie Ann Inaba?

On the October 13 episode, Inaba criticized Jenna Johnson, Val’s wife, for putting a lift in a samba with Harry Shum Jr. She even read out the definition of a lift. Val then answered on his TikTok story: “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” Variety reported. Many outlets read it as a nod to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.

He deleted the post, but Inaba had already seen it. Later, she thanked the media on her own Instagram for flagging it, according to Variety.

Why Did DWTS Bench Val Chmerkovskiy?

The show treated the joke as a workplace issue, not banter. BBC Studios told NBC News that everyone’s well-being on the show is “non-negotiable,” and it added that the post does not reflect the standards the show expects.

Timing also matters. Val and Dewan sat near the top of the leaderboard after Super Bowl Night, according to The Hollywood Reporter, so the penalty hits a pair that was doing well. Meanwhile, a source told Variety that Dewan knows about the decision and has handled it professionally.

How Has Val Responded?

He apologized twice. On Thursday, October 15, he told fans on his Instagram Story that he wanted to defend his wife but made “a poor decision to reference a meme,” ABC News reported. He also said he never meant to imply anything harmful, and he reached out to Inaba directly.

After the suspension, he wrote that Inaba “didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment,” according to E! News. In addition, he asked fans to send love to Inaba, Johnson and the cast during Dedication Night.

What Is the Timeline?

Date	What Happened
October 13	Inaba critiques Johnson and Shum Jr.’s samba on Super Bowl Night
October 14	Val posts and deletes the TikTok story
October 15	Val apologizes on Instagram
October 17	BBC Studios announces the suspension
October 20	Dedication Night airs without him

Who Will Dance With Jenna Dewan on Dedication Night?

Dewan will dance with Alan Bersten, who went home in week three and had partnered chef Giada De Laurentiis, per TVLine. Together, they will perform a Viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody,” which Dewan is dedicating to her mother, according to Variety.

However, nobody knows yet whether a new partner will change her scores. A substitute usually gets limited rehearsal time, so the judges may take that into account, although the show has not said how.

Is There a Bigger Story Behind the Joke?

The incident also touches a sore point. Inaba has told Variety that audiences boo her in a way they never boo fellow judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli. Against that backdrop, a joke about slapping a woman who already absorbs boos feels sharper than a one-off remark. That is our reading, not a statement from the show.

The response also sets a precedent. Pros have traded barbs with judges online for years, but this is the first suspension. As a result, ABC and BBC Studios appear to want a clear line.

What Is Confirmed and What Is Not?

The suspension, its one-week length, BBC Studios’ statement, Val’s apology and the Bersten swap are all confirmed. However, NBC News reports that Inaba has not commented publicly on the apology or the suspension, and the show has not hinted at any further action.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What did Val from DWTS say about Carrie Ann?

He joked on TikTok about a Fresh Prince entering the ballroom after Inaba critiqued his wife. He later deleted the post and apologized publicly.

Is Val off DWTS?

Not permanently. The show suspended him for one episode, Dedication Night on October 20, and it has announced no further penalty.

Did Val Chmerkovskiy win DWTS?

Yes. He won with Laurie Hernandez in season 23 and Xochitl Gomez in season 32, and E! News calls him a three-time champion. He has danced on the show since season two.

Who is dancing with Jenna Dewan this week?

Alan Bersten partners her in Val’s place.

Is this the first pro suspension in DWTS history?

Yes. The series says no pro has ever received a suspension.

What Comes Next for Val?

If the suspension stays at one week, Val should return after Dedication Night. Until then, viewers will watch how Dewan performs with a stand-in partner, and whether Inaba responds to the apology.