'Dancing with the Stars' Val suspended drama
USA Today • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Val Chmerkovskiy, a two-time "Dancing with the Stars" champion, was suspended for one week after posting a TikTok referencing Will Smith's Oscars slap in response to judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticizing his wife Jenna Johnson's samba lift.
- The controversy began during the Oct. 13 episode when Inaba called out an alleged illegal lift, leading to Chmerkovskiy's social media post and subsequent suspension by BBC Studios.
- Jenna Dewan, Chmerkovskiy's celebrity partner, will temporarily dance with eliminated pro Alan Bersten during the suspension, while Chmerkovskiy issued an online apology.
- Former pro Gleb Savchenko further fueled drama by publicly criticizing Inaba's judging and Bersten's credentials, adding tension to the show's atmosphere.
- Fans lament the loss of popular contestant Guillermo Rodriguez, with many hoping the show refocuses on dance and positive stories rather than ongoing conflicts.
