Val Chmerkovskiy back on 'DWTS,' Carrie Ann Inaba compliments him

Key Points:

• Val Chmerkovskiy returned to "Dancing with the Stars" after a one-week suspension due to a controversial social media post referencing Will Smith's 2022 Oscars incident, which was directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba; he apologized, stating his intent was to defend his wife, Jenna Johnson.
• Upon his return, Chmerkovskiy and his celebrity partner Jenna Dewan performed an Argentine Tango inspired by zombie movies, earning high praise from the judges, including a 9 from Inaba, who complimented the choreography and overall performance.
• After the episode, Chmerkovskiy and Inaba reconciled warmly in front of the studio audience, with affectionate gestures signaling a resolution to their dispute.
• The conflict began when Inaba criticized an illegal lift in a samba performed by Chmerkovskiy's wife and her partner, leading to his inappropriate TikTok post and subsequent suspension for violating the show's values.
• Inaba emphasized professional courtesy and standards in addressing the situation, noting she had previously resolved issues with Jenna Johnson and offered to clarify lift rules to prevent future misunderstandings.