Val Chmerkovskiy will miss next week’s episode of Dancing With the Stars after producers confirmed his suspension following a controversial social media post. The professional dancer’s comments referencing the infamous Oscars slap sparked backlash and prompted an official response from BBC Studios.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Chmerkovskiy will not participate in the upcoming Dancing With the Stars Dedication Night episode. The decision follows a social media post referencing Will Smith’s confrontation with Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. Chmerkovskiy made the remarks while defending his wife, Jenna Johnson, after criticism from judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
BBC Studios confirmed the suspension in a statement addressing the controversy. Producers described Chmerkovskiy’s comments as inappropriate and inconsistent with the show’s standards. His celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, will instead perform with Alan Bersten during the upcoming episode.
Chmerkovskiy addressed the situation publicly on October 17. He acknowledged using poor judgment and apologized for the implications of his comments. According to PEOPLE, the disciplinary action represents the first professional dancer suspension in the competition’s history.
