Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy has been benched from the upcoming episode of “Dancing With the Stars” following a social media post referencing a meme about judge Carrie Ann Inaba, according to a statement released on Saturday by BBC Studios and reported by Variety. The network stated that the post was inappropriate and failed to reflect the standards expected of individuals connected with the production.
BBC Studios Pulls Chmerkovskiy From Upcoming Episode
The network’s decision removes Chmerkovskiy from the ballroom for the program’s upcoming broadcast. In its Saturday announcement, BBC Studios emphasized that participant well-being remains a priority and that the professional’s remarks did not align with company values. The disciplinary action arrives just days after an online dispute involving judge Carrie Ann Inaba and professional dancer Jenna Johnson, who is married to Chmerkovskiy.
During the October 13 episode of the competition series, Inaba critiqued Johnson for incorporating a lift into her routine and read aloud the official definition of the move. Following the broadcast, Chmerkovskiy published a post on his TikTok story that included a reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, quoting the phrase, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth.” Although the post was quickly deleted, Inaba noticed the remark and publicly acknowledged it on Instagram, thanking media outlets for alerting her to the comment.
Chmerkovskiy Issues Public Apology for Inappropriate Post
Chmerkovskiy addressed the controversy directly through a series of statements posted to his Instagram account, offering an apology to Inaba and the audience. He wrote that his initial instinct to defend his wife led him to make a poor decision in referencing a meme without considering its broader implications. The professional dancer confirmed that his intentions were never to cause harm or draw negative attention to the program.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ Pulls Val Chmerkovskiy After ‘Inappropriate’ Carrie Ann Inaba Slap Joke: ‘The Well-Being’ of Our Staff Is … https://t.co/cPUJSKuMnM
Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was,
Chmerkovskiy wrote in his statement. He added that he reached out to Inaba personally to apologize and recognized that his platform requires greater care and thought before publishing content online. In a subsequent post, he expressed regret to viewers and stated his intention to watch and support the cast from home.
Jenna Johnson Continues Competition With Alan Bersten
Despite the absence of her husband, Jenna Johnson remains in the competition for Dedication Night. Variety confirmed that Johnson will continue performing and will be partnered temporarily with Alan Bersten, a professional dancer who was eliminated earlier in the season during week three.
Jenna Dewan is aware and has continued to be a true professional and respectful of the process,
a source told Variety, utilizing the performer’s professional name. For the upcoming broadcast, Johnson is scheduled to perform a Viennese waltz set to “Unchained Melody,” dedicated to her mother.
Inaba Discusses Longstanding Online Harassment
Earlier in Season 34, Inaba spoke with Variety about the hostility she frequently encounters from viewers during broadcasts, noting that the criticism often targets her disproportionately compared to her male peers on the judging panel, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.
It used to really affect me. I have been targeted with this kind of negativity since the show began, back when we had chat rooms,
Inaba stated. She described feeling intimidated during the latter stages of seasons due to verbal attacks from online audiences. BBC Studios and network representatives have not announced any further disciplinary measures regarding Chmerkovskiy’s future status on the program beyond the upcoming episode.