Summary (tl;dr)

Val Chmerkovskiy, a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars, has been suspended for one week after making a social media post that appeared to threaten judge Carrie Ann Inaba following her critique of his wife's performance.

Essential Background

The incident originated during the October 13 "Super Bowl Night" episode of Dancing with the Stars, where judge Carrie Ann Inaba critically reviewed a samba performed by professional dancer Jenna Johnson and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr.. Inaba specifically called out an "illegal lift" in Johnson's choreography, even reading the definition of a lift on air. Jenna Johnson is married to fellow professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, who is also a prominent figure on the show.

The Full Story

Following Carrie Ann Inaba's critique of his wife's performance, Val Chmerkovskiy posted a now-deleted TikTok story stating, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night". This comment was widely interpreted as a direct reference to Will Smith's infamous slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, implying a threat of similar physical confrontation towards Inaba. The post quickly drew criticism, prompting Inaba to respond on Instagram, questioning the remark. Chmerkovskiy subsequently issued an apology via Instagram, admitting he made a "poor decision" while attempting to defend his wife and that the reference was not intended to imply violence. In response to what it deemed an "inappropriate" social media post that did not reflect the show's values, BBC Studios, the producer of Dancing with the Stars, announced Chmerkovskiy's one-week suspension. He will not participate in the Tuesday, October 20 episode, and his celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, will dance with Alan Bersten in his absence.

Why It Matters

This incident marks the first time a professional dancer has reportedly been suspended from Dancing with the Stars. The swift disciplinary action by the show's producers underscores a strict stance against perceived threats or inappropriate conduct among cast members, emphasizing that "The well-being of everyone who works on 'Dancing with the Stars' is non-negotiable". The situation highlights the significant impact of social media comments, especially for public figures, and the potential professional consequences of remarks that can be interpreted as threatening or disrespectful, even if later apologized for. It also brings to light the ongoing tensions and pressures within competitive reality television, where personal relationships and professional critiques can sometimes lead to public disagreements.

Geographic Location

• Television City's Studio 36, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States (filming location of Dancing with the Stars)