Val Chmerkovskiy Returns to Dancing With the Stars After Suspension

Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy has officially returned to rehearsals for Dancing With the Stars and is set to rejoin the ballroom for the upcoming horror-centric episode. His return follows a one-episode suspension issued by BBC Studios after he made a controversial social media post referencing the 2022 Academy Awards altercation involving Will Smith and Chris Rock.

The controversy began last week after judge Carrie Ann Inaba critiqued a samba performance by Chmerkovskiy's wife, fellow pro dancer Jenna Johnson, and her celebrity partner Harry Shum Jr., telling Johnson that she needed to include more dance content and pointing out a lift. In response, Chmerkovskiy posted a comment on TikTok stating that viewers "almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night."

BBC Studios quickly addressed the incident, announcing the dancer's suspension prior to the show's Dedication Night. In a public statement, the production company emphasized that the well-being of everyone on the show is non-negotiable and noted that Chmerkovskiy's social media post was inappropriate and failed to reflect the expected standards of the program.

During Chmerkovskiy's absence, his celebrity partner Jenna Dewan performed alongside substitute pro Alan Bersten during Dedication Night. Dewan and Bersten delivered a Viennese waltz to "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers, honoring Dewan's mother, and earned a score of 37 out of 40 from the judges.

Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro briefly addressed the lineup change at the beginning of the broadcast, telling viewers that Val was not with them that week. Meanwhile, a video package showed Dewan and Bersten discussing the transition without explicitly mentioning the controversy surrounding Chmerkovskiy.

Following the backlash, Chmerkovskiy issued public and private apologies to Inaba. He explained on Instagram that his instinct to defend his wife led him to make a poor decision referencing a meme without fully considering the implications of the reference. He stated that Inaba did not deserve to be caught in the middle of his bad judgment and expressed regret for his actions.

Chmerkovskiy is now back preparing for the remainder of season 35 and will resume dancing alongside Dewan for the upcoming episode.