Val Chmerkovskiy, a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars, has been temporarily removed from the show following an inappropriate social media post targeting judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The decision comes after Chmerkovskiy's TikTok post, which has since been deleted, referenced the 2022 Oscars incident where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. The post was in response to Inaba's critique of Chmerkovskiy's dance partner, Jenna Johnson, who is also his wife.
BBC Studios, the show's producer, released a statement emphasizing the importance of the well-being of everyone involved in the show. The post was deemed inappropriate and did not align with the show's values or standards. As a result, Chmerkovskiy will not participate in the upcoming episode scheduled for next week.
Chmerkovskiy later apologized on social media, stating that his intention was to defend his wife without realizing the broader implications of his reference. He expressed regret that Inaba was caught in the middle of his poor judgment. Despite the controversy, Jenna Johnson and her new dance partner, Alan Bersten, will continue in the competition.
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams on Disney+. Episodes are also available the next day on Hulu.