‘DWTS’ Val Chmerkovskiy Speaks Out on Suspension as Jenna Dewan’s New Partner Revealed
What you need to know
- Valentin Chmerkovskiy was suspended from Dancing With the Stars for a week after posting an inappropriate message on social media referencing the Will Smith Oscars incident while defending his wife, Jenna Johnson, following criticism from judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
- Chmerkovskiy publicly apologized, acknowledging his poor judgment and expressing regret for implicating Carrie Ann Inaba and distracting from the efforts of her dance partner Jenna Dewan.
- Alan Bersten, previously eliminated with his celebrity partner, will replace Chmerkovskiy as Jenna Dewan’s partner for the show’s upcoming “Dedication Night.”
Dancing with the stars professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy speaks out after his week-long suspension – and Jenna Dewan’s new partner has been announced.
On Saturday October 17, a press release from DWTS Production company BBC Studios stressed that “the well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the stars is non-negotiable,” according to NBC News. BBC Studios also said: “Val’s social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected to the show. As a result, he will not participate in next week’s show.
Shortly after the news broke, Chmerkovskiy posted a message to fans on his Instagram Story. “Hello everyone,” he began. “As you may have seen on the news, I will not be in the ballroom this week.”
The professional dancer continued, “At a time when my instinct was to defend my wife, I made the poor decision to reference a meme to ‘keep my wife’s name’ out of the conversation, without thinking about what else that reference might imply, which was truly never my intention. Carrie Ann certainly did not deserve to be caught in the middle of my poor judgment, and I hate that she was.”
Concluding his post, Chmerkovskiy wrote, “The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is doing. Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna and everyone. DTWS lots of love to the family at the dedication evening. I will be watching and cheering everyone on!!
As Dewan’s dance partner for the DWTS “Dedication Night” on Tuesday, October 20 will be Alan Bersten, Entertainment Weekly reported. He and his famous partner, Giada De Laurentiis, were eliminated in week 2.
On October 13, Chmerkovskiy wrote on his TikTok Story, “You almost saw Fresh Prince walk into the ballroom last night,” referring to Will Smith defending his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, at the 2022 Oscars after Chris Rock joked about her being bald. (Smith also slapped Rock on stage after he shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!”
Chmerkovskiy’s message came after DWTS Judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized her wife, Jenna Johnson’s, performance with Harry Shum Jr. Her suspension marks the first in the show’s history.
Dancing with the StarsSeason 35, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+
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