Val Chmerkovskiy Benched From 'DWTS' After Oscar Slap Joke About Carrie Ann
The drama between "Dancing With the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba and pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy is not over yet. Chmerkovskiy has apologized for a social media post that appeared to reference the infamous 2022 Oscars slap, but Inaba has not publicly responded to his apology, and the show has pulled him from tonight's episode.
Here is a look at how the feud started and where things stand now.
How It Started: A Lift and a Critique
The trouble began during Super Bowl Night on Oct. 13. Chmerkovskiy's wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson, danced a samba with her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr. Inaba called out the routine for including an illegal lift and read the show's definition of a lift on air, ABC News reported.
Chmerkovskiy did not take the critique well. In response to a clip of Johnson and Shum getting their scores, he posted, "Put some respect on her name. She's trippin' talking to her like that," TheWrap reported.
He then went further on his TikTok story, sharing a photo with the caption, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night."
Why the "Fresh Prince" Post Caused an Uproar
For anyone who missed the reference, Will Smith starred in the 1990s sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." At the 2022 Academy Awards, Smith walked onstage and slapped comedian Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The moment became one of the most talked-about incidents in Oscars history.
Many fans and entertainment outlets read Chmerkovskiy's post as suggesting someone might slap Inaba over her comments. The post has since been deleted.
Inaba responded after seeing a screenshot of it on Instagram. "So this is what we are doing now?" she wrote, thanking media outlets for bringing it to her attention.
Val's Apology
Late Thursday night, Chmerkovskiy posted an apology on his Instagram story.
"I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post," he wrote. "I should have never made the reference that I did, and I deeply regret it." He said he had reached out to Inaba directly and personally, and added, "I am truly sorry to Carrie Ann and everyone who I hurt with my careless post. I will do better moving forward," The Big Lead reported.
He also explained that he "made a poor decision to reference a meme to 'keep my wife's name' out of the conversation," adding, "Carrie Ann certainly didn't deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment."
Inaba has not publicly responded to the apology, and neither has said whether the two have talked it out.
Benched for Dedication Night
On Saturday, BBC Studios, which produces the show, announced that Chmerkovskiy would sit out tonight's Dedication Night episode.
"The well-being of everyone who works on 'Dancing with the Stars' is non-negotiable," the production company said, calling his post "inappropriate" and saying it "does not reflect the values" expected of anyone connected to the show.
His celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, will instead dance with pro Alan Bersten, who was eliminated in Week 3. BBC Studios said Dewan "is aware of the changes and has continued to be professional and respectful of the process."
The timing is tough for the pair. On Super Bowl Night, Chmerkovskiy and Dewan earned all nines from the judges. For Dedication Night, Dewan is set to perform a Viennese waltz to "Unchained Melody" in honor of her mom, Nancy.
"Dancing With the Stars" airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams on Disney+. Fans can vote for their favorite couples during the live show.
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