‘DWTS’ Suspends Val Chmerkovskiy for One Week

Dancing With the Stars has suspended professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy for one week after a deleted social-media post appeared to reference Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap. Producer BBC Studios said Chmerkovskiy will not participate in the show’s next episode.

The disciplinary action is a significant new step in a controversy that began after judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized a samba performed by Chmerkovskiy’s wife, Jenna Johnson, and her celebrity partner Harry Shum Jr. Chmerkovskiy responded online with a reference to the “Fresh Prince” entering the ballroom, language widely understood as invoking Smith’s onstage attack on Chris Rock.

BBC Studios benches Chmerkovskiy

In a statement reported by Variety, Deadline and E! News, BBC Studios described the well-being of the show’s staff as non-negotiable and said the post did not meet the standards expected from people associated with the production. The company confirmed that Chmerkovskiy will sit out the upcoming Dedication Night episode.

Chmerkovskiy had already apologized publicly to Inaba and said he had contacted her privately. After the suspension was announced, he again accepted responsibility, explaining that his attempt to defend his wife relied on a meme without sufficient thought about the violent implication. He said Inaba did not deserve to be placed in the middle of his poor judgment.

A consequence beyond the apology

The suspension turns an online dispute into an on-air production change. Chmerkovskiy is paired with actor Jenna Dewan for the current season, so his absence will affect rehearsals and the presentation of their next routine. The show had not announced a permanent removal; the action described by the producer is limited to one week.

The episode also separates criticism of the original dance from the conduct that followed it. Inaba’s comments were part of her judging role, while BBC Studios framed the social-media post as a workplace standards issue. That distinction explains why the production moved forward even after Chmerkovskiy apologized.

For a live competition built around professional partnerships and rapid weekly preparation, losing a pro for an episode is more than a symbolic reprimand. It places the focus on how the show handles safety and accountability when a heated response extends beyond the ballroom.