DWTS Suspends Val Chmerkovskiy as Jenna Dewan Dances With Alan Bersten

A dispute involving a judge's criticism of a dance performance led Dancing With the Stars to suspend professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy for one live show, leaving celebrity contestant Jenna Dewan to compete with Alan Bersten during Dedication Night on October 20, 2026. The production company cited a social media post it considered inappropriate, while Dewan dedicated her performance to her mother, Nancy Smith.

BBC Studios Los Angeles announced the one-week suspension on October 17, three days after Chmerkovskiy published a since-deleted TikTok post reacting to judge Carrie Ann Inaba's criticism of his wife, fellow professional dancer Jenna Johnson. The controversy also prompted Chmerkovskiy to apologize publicly to Inaba and explain his intentions.

The production company said the decision followed its established procedures after reviewing Chmerkovskiy's public comments. The suspension meant he would miss the October 20 broadcast, during which Dewan performed with Bersten, who had previously been eliminated from the competition with celebrity partner Giada De Laurentiis.

In its October 17 statement, BBC Studios Los Angeles emphasized its workplace expectations. The company said, "The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable," and described the post as inconsistent with the show's standards.

The company also stated, "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."

Reports initially suggested that an internal complaint filed by Inaba had triggered the suspension. However, E! News reported that this was not the case and that Chmerkovskiy's social media activity prompted the investigation.

The deleted post referred to the possibility that the Fresh Prince might enter the ballroom. Fans interpreted the remark as an allusion to the 2022 Academy Awards incident in which Will Smith slapped host Chris Rock after a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Chmerkovskiy subsequently acknowledged that his attempt to defend his wife had resulted in a poorly judged public reference. In a statement shared on Instagram Stories on October 17, he explained, "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."

He also expressed regret that Inaba had become involved in the controversy. Chmerkovskiy said, "Carrie Ann certainly didn't deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was."

Addressing the impact on the competition, he added, "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."

Chmerkovskiy also encouraged viewers to support the people involved in the show. He said, "Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna, and the whole DWTS family lots of love during Dedication Night. I'll be watching and cheering everyone on!!" He also indicated that he would not be in the ballroom for the October 20 broadcast.

While the suspension dominated attention surrounding the episode, Dewan focused on honoring her mother. The actress shared photographs documenting their relationship on Instagram on October 18 and reflected on the values Nancy Smith had taught her throughout her life.

Dewan described her mother's influence in a tribute, writing, "I've been thinking so much on all the things my mom has taught me throughout my life. Not just in what she's said, but in the way she's lived and the example she's always been for me."

She continued, "To lead with kindness. To give people grace. To be strong without losing your softness. To keep your heart open, even when life doesn't go quite the way you imagined."

Dewan credited Smith with supporting her ambitions and encouraging her interest in dance. She wrote, "My mom has always been my biggest cheerleader. The one who believed in me before I even knew what was possible for myself.

Who encouraged me to dream big, to keep going, and most importantly, to never lose sight of who I am along the way. And now, all these years and so many chapters of life later, I get to dedicate a dance to her this Tuesday."

The actress described the dedication as a meaningful return to the beginnings of her career, explaining that her mother had first encouraged her love of dancing. Dewan also reflected on the lasting influence of parental guidance.

She wrote, "As life goes on, the more I realize that some of the greatest gifts our parents give us aren't things at all. They're the values we carry, the love we pass on, and the way we choose to show up in this world."

Dewan concluded her tribute by expressing her hope that her performance would make her mother proud, emphasizing the importance of her character and the way she lives rather than professional achievements alone.

For Dedication Night, Dewan and Bersten performed a Viennese waltz to The Righteous Brothers' song Unchained Melody in honor of Smith. The pairing allowed Dewan to continue in the competition despite Chmerkovskiy's absence.

During the October 20 broadcast, host Alfonso Ribeiro acknowledged the change in partners as the show began. He told viewers, "As you can see, Alan Bersten is with Jenna Dewan because Val is not with us this week."

Chmerkovskiy, 40, had previously apologized to Inaba both publicly and privately, according to E! News. The show had not announced any change to the one-week suspension, and he was expected to return for the October 27 episode if Dewan advanced in the competition.