Val Chmerkovskiy Suspended From Dancing With the Stars Over Oscar Slap Comment
Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended from Dancing with the Stars for one week by producer BBC Studios following a social media post referencing the 2022 Oscars slap. The disciplinary action arrives during the show’s 35th season after Chmerkovskiy posted a TikTok Story on Wednesday reacting to a judge’s critique of his wife and fellow pro dancer Jenna Johnson.
BBC Studios Enforces Suspension After TikTok Controversy
BBC Studios issued a formal statement regarding the incident, declaring that the well-being of everyone working on the show is non-negotiable. The production company stated that Chmerkovskiy’s social media post was inappropriate and failed to reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the program. As a direct consequence of the post, BBC Studios confirmed that Chmerkovskiy would not participate in the upcoming live episode.
The controversy began after the show’s Super Bowl Night episode aired on Tuesday, October 13. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba delivered a critical evaluation of the samba routine performed by Jenna Johnson and her celebrity partner Harry Shum Jr., pointing out a lift. When Johnson and her partner Harry Shum Jr. did the samba to “Yeah!” by Usher, Inaba explained that while she “loved every minute” of the performance, she told the “Glee” alum he needs to “put more content in [his] dances.” And there was a lift,
Inaba, 58, added. When Johnson seemed surprised and asked, A lift?
A lift is — I just need to say it — any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner.
Judge Derek Hough reacted to the moment by saying, Dang. I feel like I got told off.
Inaba added, I will meet you where you are.
When Hough praised Johnson and Shum Jr., 44, for their fantastic performance,
Inaba could be heard agreeing with him. Inaba gave Johnson and Shum Jr. an 8 for their dance. Johnson replied, I totally understand. I thought it was if you lifted your partner, but I totally hear Carrie Ann. I will take it. Sure.
Johnson and Shum Jr. received a score of 33 out of 40 from the judges. Shum Jr. exclaimed, Oh my god, amazing. It’s a dream come true. We got Usher, we got Super Bowl Halftime Show. We did it!
while Johnson told her partner, I’m so proud of you.
Inaba is notoriously known as the lift police,
deducting points if she spots an illegal move.
Chmerkovskiy Apologizes for Fresh Prince Reference
Following the broadcast, Chmerkovskiy posted a since-deleted TikTok Story writing, You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,
drawing an apparent comparison to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards.
Chmerkovskiy subsequently issued an apology through his representative and via Instagram, calling the post a poor decision and bad judgment born from an instinct to defend his wife. He wrote, Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgement, and I hate that she was.
He added that he reached out to Inaba to apologize directly and personally, stating that he deeply regretted making the reference. He also stated on Instagram, I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post.
He noted that he recognized his fortunate position to have a platform and be a role model, stating he needs to treat it with more care by actively pausing to think before posting.
Hi everyone. As you may have seen in the news, I won’t be in the ballroom this week. 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.
Jenna Dewan Shifts to Alan Bersten for Dedication Night
Chmerkovskiy’s temporary benching impacts his celebrity partner Jenna Dewan ahead of the upcoming Dedication Night episode scheduled for October 20. Bersten previously danced with Giada De Laurentiis this season before their elimination in Week 3.
Other professional dancers weighed in on the underlying rule dispute regarding lifts in ballroom routines. Sharna Burgess explained in a Thursday social media video: Zero lifts [are allowed] in any of the ballroom dances, so waltz, tango, foxtrot, quickstep [and] Viennese waltz.
Disclaimer: The views and cultural analyses presented in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only. Information regarding legal disputes or financial data is based on available public records.