DWTS suspension over Will Smith slap comment gets a shrug from Val Chmerkovskiy
Val Chmerkovskiy isn’t sweating the DWTS suspension drama, brushing it off as more family squabble than scandal.
After a week of whispers about his brief benching, Val Chmerkovskiy is framing the whole thing as a minor dust-up among people who work side by side every day on Dancing With the Stars. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the veteran pro waved off any sense of lingering tension and emphasized how quickly the show’s tight-knit crew moves past conflict.
“Families get into little fights and it ’s not about getting into it. It’s about how you resolve it.”
Chmerkovskiy also said he felt “overwhelmed with joy and love” when he stepped back into the ballroom, and he stressed he has love for judge Carrie Ann Inaba despite the online back-and-forth that sparked the controversy. He praised her right to speak her mind and said he wants her to feel supported and happy on the panel.
How the suspension happened
The flare-up followed the Oct. 13 Super Bowl Night episode, when Chmerkovskiy’s wife, pro Jenna Johnson, and her celebrity partner were hit with a deduction for an illegal lift, prompting an awkward exchange at the judges’ table. The next day, Chmerkovskiy jumped to Johnson’s defense on social media and posted — then deleted — a TikTok that referenced Will Smith’s Oscars slap in the direction of Inaba.
Producers BBC Studios responded by sidelining him for Oct. 20’s Dedication Night. Chmerkovskiy issued both public and private apologies to Inaba, expressing regret for the comparison.
- Oct. 13 — Super Bowl Night lift penalty for Johnson; Chmerkovskiy posts then deletes TikTok referencing the Oscars slap
- Oct. 20 — Chmerkovskiy sits out Dedication Night
- Following week — Returns to the ballroom after apologizing
Back in the ballroom
On his return, Chmerkovskiy and his celebrity partner delivered a moody Argentine tango to “Uninvited,” leaning into a post-apocalyptic vibe inspired by the 2007 horror cult favorite 28 Weeks Later. The routine landed with the panel, pulling in 37 out of 40 — a 10 from Derek Hough and 9s from Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and guest judge Shirley Ballas.