Val Chmerkovskiy will miss 'Dancing with the Stars' after scandal
18 october 2026 в 09:02
Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy will not participate in the next live broadcast of «Dancing with the Stars» following his controversial comment about judge Carrie Ann Inaba. A representative from BBC Studios stated on October 17 that «the well-being of everyone involved in the show is paramount», - adding that Chmerkovskiy’s social media post was inappropriate and not in line with the program’s values.
In his statement, Chmerkovskiy explained that his comment was made in a moment when he was trying to defend his wife, dancer Jenna Johnson. He acknowledged that he used a meme to «avoid mentioning his wife’s name», - not considering how it might be perceived. Chmerkovskiy expressed regret that Carrie Ann was drawn into his poor decision and emphasized that he did not want to distract from an important week and his partner’s work.
Tension between Chmerkovskiy and Inaba arose earlier this month during «Super Bowl Night», - when Inaba made a remark about a lift in Johnson’s dance with Harry Shum Jr. Chmerkovskiy defended his wife in comments on a video of the performance, later adding in a deleted message that he «almost saw the Fresh Prince walk into the room», - referencing the incident at the 2022 Oscars when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.
After the conflict went viral, some fans called for the show to take action. Chmerkovskiy later posted an apology on Instagram, noting that he deeply regrets his words and understands that they may affect many beyond the show. He also apologized to Carrie Ann and promised to be more mindful in the future.
In his statement, Chmerkovskiy explained that his comment was made in a moment when he was trying to defend his wife, dancer Jenna Johnson. He acknowledged that he used a meme to «avoid mentioning his wife’s name», - not considering how it might be perceived. Chmerkovskiy expressed regret that Carrie Ann was drawn into his poor decision and emphasized that he did not want to distract from an important week and his partner’s work.
Tension between Chmerkovskiy and Inaba arose earlier this month during «Super Bowl Night», - when Inaba made a remark about a lift in Johnson’s dance with Harry Shum Jr. Chmerkovskiy defended his wife in comments on a video of the performance, later adding in a deleted message that he «almost saw the Fresh Prince walk into the room», - referencing the incident at the 2022 Oscars when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.
After the conflict went viral, some fans called for the show to take action. Chmerkovskiy later posted an apology on Instagram, noting that he deeply regrets his words and understands that they may affect many beyond the show. He also apologized to Carrie Ann and promised to be more mindful in the future.
© Smirnova Olga
