'DWTS' pro Val Chmerkovskiy apologizes to Carrie Ann Inaba for Will Smith slap reference
Page Six • • entertainment
Key Points:
- "Dancing With the Stars" pro Val Chmerkovskiy apologized to judge Carrie Ann Inaba for a TikTok post referencing Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap, acknowledging his mistake and role model responsibility.
- Chmerkovskiy’s comment, made after Inaba criticized his wife Jenna Johnson during the show, sparked backlash from fans who viewed it as inappropriate or threatening.
- Inaba addressed the comment on social media, expressing concern and thanking media for bringing it to her attention, while some fans defended Chmerkovskiy, suggesting he referenced Smith’s famous line rather than the slap itself.
- The incident followed a tense exchange between Johnson and Inaba over dance feedback during the episode, which aired on ABC and streams on Disney+.
