Dancing with the Stars Makes History With First-Ever Pro Suspension After Val's Slap-Joke Scandal

A Joke That Landed Like a Slap

Val Chmerkovskiy has been suspended from *Dancing with the Stars* after appearing to reference Will Smith's infamous 2022 Oscars slap in a since-deleted social media post — marking the first known suspension of a professional dancer in the show's history, according to ABC. It's the kind of off-floor drama that no ballroom competition wants, and it has ignited a full-blown likability crisis for a franchise that has long prided itself on feel-good entertainment.

The dispute began during the October 13 "Super Bowl Night" episode, when judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized Chmerkovskiy's wife, fellow *DWTS* pro Jenna Johnson, for an alleged illegal lift in her samba with actor Harry Shum Jr. Val, who is married to Johnson, appeared to defend her in a TikTok post that read, "You almost saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night" — a comment widely viewed as a reference to Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock during the 2022 Academy Awards.

From Social Media to Suspension

Carrie Ann Inaba took Val's Will Smith joke as more than just a punchline, telling show officials she felt threatened by the comment and wanted something to be done. BBC Studios, which produces the show, launched an internal investigation after the post appeared. In a statement, producer BBC Studios said, "The well-being of everyone who works on *Dancing with the Stars* is non-negotiable," adding that "Val's social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show. As a result, he will not participate in next week's show."

Chmerkovskiy publicly apologized on October 15 and said he had contacted Inaba personally. He said his "instinct was to defend my wife" but admitted that he made "a poor decision" by referencing a meme, adding that he wanted to "keep my wife's name" out of the conversation but failed to consider what else the reference could suggest. The apology, while genuine in tone, wasn't enough to keep him on the dance floor.

The Show Goes On — Without Val

For the first time in *Dancing with the Stars* history, a pro was not allowed to dance with their celebrity partner. The suspension was briefly addressed at the beginning of the episode, when cohost Alfonso Ribeiro simply said that "Val is not with us this week" and explained that Week 3 eliminee Alan Bersten would be subbing in. Chmerkovskiy's dance partner, Jenna Dewan, was reportedly aware of the situation and performed with Bersten in a routine dedicated to her mother.

Former *DWTS* pro Gleb Savchenko also crashed into the fray, criticizing Inaba's judging in a TikTok livestream, proclaiming himself "Team Val," and attacking Bersten's credentials to fill in. The sideshow only added more noise to an already chaotic week, underscoring how quickly a single deleted post can spiral into a multi-day media storm.

A Pattern of Off-Screen Trouble

In 2024, former *DWTS* pro Artem Chigvintsev was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence against then-wife Nikki Garcia. Ultimately, the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence, but critics say the incident still tarnished the feel-good series. Insiders say *DWTS* bosses are now worried that the latest season's behind-the-scenes chaos could hurt ratings.

For a show built on sequins, smiles, and aspirational redemption arcs, the Val scandal cuts at something deeper — the unspoken contract between the production and its audience. Fans tune in to watch celebrities grow and pros inspire. When the drama moves from the judges' table to HR complaints and deleted TikToks, that contract frays. Whether the show can refocus attention on the dancing — and away from the ballroom's increasingly messy politics — may well determine how Season 35 is ultimately remembered.