'Dancing with the Stars' pro Val Chmerkovskiy will not perform in the upcoming Week 6 "Dedication Night" episode as a result of the controversial social media remark he made towards Carrie Ann Inaba referencing the Will Smith Oscar slap.
Chmerkovskiy, who has been a pro on the ABC dance competition series since Season 13 in 2011, was suspended from Season 35 of 'Dancing with the Stars' and will sit out of the Oct. 20 episode, BBC Studios, the show's production company, announced in an Oct. 17 statement.
"The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing With the Stars is non-negotiable," BBC Studios said in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter. "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 is partnered with actress Jenna Dewan, who will be paired with a different pro for this week's episode.
USA TODAY has reached out to ABC and BBC Studios for comment.
What did Val Chmerkovskiy say about Carrie Ann Inaba?
Following the Week 5 "Super Bowl Night" episode, Chmerkovskiy posted on his TikTok story referencing the 2022 Academy Awards slap, implying he wanted to slap Inaba the same way Will Smith did to Chris Rock after he made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
"You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night," Chmerkovskiy said, as a reference to Smith's character from the classic sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
Inaba responded to his comment on Instagram, writing, "So this is what we are doing now?"
Chmerkovskiy posted on his Instagram story on Oct. 15, saying he privately apologized to Inaba and deeply regretted the reference. He made another statement on his Instagram story on Oct. 17, publicly addressing his upcoming absence.
"In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme to 'keep my wife's name' out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention," he wrote.
"Carrie Ann certainly didn't deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was," he continued. "The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is putting in."
Why was Chmerkovskiy suspended from 'Dancing with the Stars'?
Chmerkovskiy's online comments toward Inaba came after an exchange she had with his wife, 'Dancing with the Stars' pro Jenna Johnson, during the Oct. 13 episode.
Johnson and her partner, 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Glee' actor Harry Shum Jr., danced a samba to "Yeah!" by USHER featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris for the Week 5 "Super Bowl Night."
In the judges' critiques, Inaba said Johnson's routine included an illegal lift and told her, "I think you need to put more content in your dances."
Johnson questioned Inaba's claim of a lift, and Inaba responded by reading the definition of a lift out loud: "Any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner."
Inaba was referring to a moment in the routine when troupe members helped Shum with a backflip. Johnson responded to Inaba's critique before the pair got their scores, saying, "I totally understand. I thought it was if you lifted your partner, but totally hear Carrie Ann," she said.
Who will Jenna Dewan partner with for 'DWTS' Dedication Night?
'Dancing with the Stars' pro Alan Bersten will fill in for Chmerkovskiy as Dewan's partner for the upcoming Oct. 20 "Dedication Night" episode, according to Page Six and People.
Bersten, who is an American professional Latin and ballroom dancer, was a contestant on Season 10 of 'So You Think You Can Dance' in 2013. He then joined 'Dancing with the Stars' as a pro for Season 25, and won the Mirror Ball in Season 28 with 'Bachelorette' star Hannah Brown.
He was partnered with celebrity chef and cookbook author Giada De Laurentiis for Season 35, and the pair was eliminated during Week 2.
When is the next episode of 'Dancing with the Stars'?
The next episode of 'Dancing with the Stars' will air tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 8 p.m.
This will be Week 6 of the competition.
Will 'DWTS' be available on streaming?
Yes. 'Dancing with the Stars' episodes air live on ABC and Disney+, and then will be available to stream on Hulu the following day.
Contributing: USA TODAY
—Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York State. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@USATodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Why was Val Chmerkovskiy suspended from 'DWTS'? Carrie Ann Inaba post explained
