Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy has been suspended for one week from Dancing With the Stars Season 35 following a controversial social media post referencing Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap Hollywood Reporter. The disciplinary action means Chmerkovskiy will miss the upcoming Dedication Night episode scheduled for October 20, 2026 Variety. This marks the first time in the history of the competition series that a professional dancer has faced an official suspension Yahoo Entertainment.

The TikTok Post and BBC Studios Response

The controversy began after Chmerkovskiy published a TikTok story featuring the text, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night," alluding to Will Smith striking Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards Today. The digital post was swiftly deleted, but not before drawing widespread attention and triggering immediate network intervention Page Six.

BBC Studios released an official statement declaring that the professional's social media content was deemed inappropriate for the brand and confirming his removal from the following program Yahoo News Canada. The online remarks followed an October 13, 2026 episode featuring a critique by judge Carrie Ann Inaba regarding a lift performed during a samba routine Economic Times.

Following the network's announcement, Chmerkovskiy issued an apology via Instagram acknowledging that he made a poor decision by referencing a meme to keep his wife's name out of the conversation Hollywood Reporter. He also stated that he reached out to Carrie Ann Inaba personally and publicly to address the situation, emphasizing that he did not want to distract from his partner Jenna Dewan's ongoing work on the show Variety.

Impact on the Competition and Partnership Lineup

Due to the one-week suspension, celebrity partner Jenna Dewan will not perform with Chmerkovskiy for the October 20, 2026 Dedication Night broadcast Hollywood Reporter. Instead, Dewan is scheduled to dance with professional dancer Alan Bersten for the episode Variety.

Bersten previously competed in Season 35 before being eliminated earlier in the season during Week 3 Today. His return for this single week provides Dewan with an active professional partner to maintain her standing in the competition Page Six.

Chmerkovskiy's absence is strictly limited to the one-week disciplinary period ordered by BBC Studios Yahoo News Canada. Neither the network nor the production team has announced any permanent changes to the professional roster beyond the upcoming Dedication Night episode Economic Times.

As the production moves forward with the modified pairing, viewers will monitor how the temporary transition affects Dewan's performance on the ballroom floor Yahoo Entertainment.