DWTS Suspends Val Chmerkovskiy After Social Media Controversy

A social media controversy involving professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy led BBC Studios to suspend him from Dancing with the Stars for its October 20, 2026, episode. The decision followed his deleted TikTok response to judge Carrie Ann Inaba's criticism of a routine performed by Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, prompting an apology and a change to the show's pairings for Dedication Night.

BBC Studios announced the suspension on October 17, saying Chmerkovskiy would not participate in the following week's episode. His wife, Jenna Johnson, was not the celebrity contestant affected by the partner change; actress Jenna Dewan was scheduled to perform with professional dancer Alan Bersten, who had been eliminated earlier in the season.

The production company explained its decision in a statement addressing workplace standards and the dancer's social media activity.

"The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable. Val's social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show. As a result, he will not participate in next week's show." BBC Studios said.

The dispute began after Inaba questioned a lift in the samba performed by Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson the previous week. During the broadcast, the judge explained that the move was not permitted in the dance and read the definition aloud.

Chmerkovskiy subsequently posted a TikTok that referenced the 2022 Oscars incident in which Will Smith slapped Chris Rock while defending his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The deleted post suggested that viewers had nearly seen a similar reaction in the ballroom.

On October 15, Chmerkovskiy apologized to Inaba, 58, acknowledging the impact of his remarks in a public statement after contacting her privately.

"In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme to 'keep my wife's name' out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention. Carrie Ann certainly didn't deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was." Chmerkovskiy said.

He also addressed the effect of the controversy on the competition and his professional commitments, emphasizing his support for the participants during the special episode.

"The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is putting in. Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna, and the whole DTWS family lots of love during Dedication Night. I'll be watching and cheering everyone on!! ❤️." Chmerkovskiy said.

The October 20 episode centered on Dedication Night, with each celebrity scheduled to perform a dance honoring someone important in their life. Those honorees were also expected to join the contestants on the dance floor.

According to the episode preview, 10 couples remained in the competition before the broadcast. Previously eliminated contestants included Guillermo Rodriguez, Ciara Miller, Taylor Hanson, Giada De Laurentiis, Conner Leavitt and Sarah Jane Nader, who had competed with their respective professional partners.