Dancing with the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy has been suspended from the show for one week after making a controversial social-media post about judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
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The Step Up and The Rookie actress announced the casting switch-up via Instagram on Monday, October 19.
Val's suspension marks the first time a professional dancer has been suspended in the show's history.
The controversy began after Carrie Ann criticized Val's wife Jenna Johnson and her celebrity partner Harry Shum Jr. for their samba performance during the October 13 broadcast.
Not only did Carrie Ann say the pair's "Super Bowl" dance lacked actual samba content, but she also called out an illegal lift.
When Jenna had expressed surprise over the lift allegation, Carrie Ann read from the DWTS rulebook -- an uncomfortable moment that even made fellow DWTS judge Derek Hough squirm in his chair.
Val subsequently took to social media and said Carrie Ann was "tripping." He also wrote in a since-deleted post, "You almost saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night."
The comment appeared to reference Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards after the comedian made a joke about Will's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
BBC Studios, which produces Dancing with the Stars, officially announced Val's suspension in a statement to People earlier this week.
"The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable," the production company said.
"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."
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Val addressed his suspension in an Instagram Stories post on Saturday, October 17, admitting he had exercised poor judgment while attempting to defend his wife.
"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," Val wrote.
"Carrie Ann certainly didn't deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was."
Val went on to explain that he didn't want the controversy to overshadow the upcoming "Dedication Night" episode or Dewan's hard work.
"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," Val continued.
"Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna, and the whole DWTS family lots of love during Dedication Night. I'll be watching and cheering everyone on!!"
Val had previously issued a public apology on October 15, revealing he had also contacted Carrie Ann privately to apologize.
"I recognize that I am in a fortunate position to have a platform and to be a role model to some, and I need to treat that with more care by actively pausing to think before I post to ensure what I am sharing aligns with who I am, and who I want to be for you all," Val wrote at the time.
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In Val's absence, Alan, 32, will return to the ballroom to compete with Dewan, 45, who is currently starring on The Rookie.
Alan had been partnered with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis earlier in Season 35, but the pair was eliminated during the second week of competition.
Alan and Jenna are scheduled to perform a Viennese waltz to "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers in honor of Jenna's mother, Nancy.
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Alan previously won the Mirrorball Trophy with former The Bachelorette star Hannah Brown during Season 28 in 2019.
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesday nights at 8PM ET on ABC and Disney+.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
