Summary (tl;dr)

Val Chmerkovskiy, a professional dancer on "Dancing with the Stars," has been suspended for one week due to an "inappropriate" social media post that referenced Will Smith's 2022 Oscars slap, following judge Carrie Ann Inaba's critique of his wife's performance. This marks the first suspension in the show's history.

Essential Background

The controversy began after an episode of "Dancing with the Stars" when judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized Val Chmerkovskiy's wife, fellow professional dancer Jenna Johnson, for including an "illegal lift" in her routine with partner Harry Shum Jr. Inaba publicly addressed the rule regarding the lift.

The Full Story

In response to Inaba's critique of his wife, Val Chmerkovskiy posted a now-deleted message on TikTok that stated, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night." This comment was widely interpreted as an allusion to Will Smith's incident at the 2022 Oscars, where he slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife. Inaba reacted to Chmerkovskiy's post on Instagram, questioning the remark. BBC Studios, the show's production company, deemed Chmerkovskiy's social media post "inappropriate" and not reflective of the show's values or standards, leading to his one-week suspension from "Dancing with the Stars." Chmerkovskiy has since apologized, acknowledging his poor judgment and expressing regret for involving Inaba and creating a distraction. During his suspension, his celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, will dance with Alan Bersten.

Why It Matters

This incident is significant as it marks the first time a professional dancer has been suspended from "Dancing with the Stars," highlighting the show's zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate conduct and its commitment to the "well-being of everyone who works on the show." The trending keywords indicate strong public interest in the consequences of social media behavior, particularly when it involves public figures and potentially aggressive undertones in a professional setting. The situation also draws attention to the ongoing discussions around celebrity apologies and accountability for their online actions.

Geographic Location

• United States (production and broadcast of "Dancing with the Stars")