Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 37 mins ago
Val Chmerkovskiy Returns to DWTS and Apologizes to Jenna Dewan
Val Chmerkovskiy returned to Dancing With the Stars on October 27 after missing a week of competition.
He apologized to his dance partner, Jenna Dewan, for the disruption, and she said she forgave him.
The suspension followed a social media post referencing the 2022 Oscars slap by Will Smith, which Chmerkovskiy said he had mentioned while defending his wife, fellow dancer Jenna Johnson.
The post came after judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized a lift in Johnson and Harry Shum Jr.’s dance.
Chmerkovskiy said the reference was a poor decision and that he had not intended to suggest violence.
Dewan had danced with Alan Bersten during Chmerkovskiy’s absence, then reunited with him for an Argentine tango on his return.
Inaba praised Chmerkovskiy’s choreography after their performance, and the pair continued the competition together.
Val Chmerkovskiy returned to Dancing With the Stars on Oct. 27 and apologized to partner Jenna Dewan after a one-week suspension.
Dewan told him she forgave him and had missed him.
Chmerkovskiy was suspended after social media comments about judge Carrie Ann Inaba referenced Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars incident.
Dewan had danced with Alan Bersten during Chmerkovskiy’s absence.
Dewan and Chmerkovskiy performed an Argentine tango and received 37 out of 40 points.
- Who
- Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Dewan. Carrie Ann Inaba was involved in the controversy.
- What
- Chmerkovskiy returned to Dancing With the Stars and apologized to Dewan after a one-week suspension.
- When
- Oct. 27, 2026.
- Where
- On Dancing With the Stars, during its Horror Movie Night broadcast.
- Why
- Chmerkovskiy was suspended for social media comments about Inaba that referenced Will Smith’s Oscars incident. He apologized to Dewan for the disruption.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Carrie Ann Inaba criticized a lift by Jenna Johnson and Harry Shum Jr. during their samba.
Chmerkovskiy said he would miss the week’s show after making a social media reference to Will Smith’s Oscars incident.
Dewan danced a Viennese waltz with Alan Bersten during Dedication Night.
Chmerkovskiy returned, apologized to Dewan, and performed an Argentine tango with her.
- Suspension
- One week
- Return date
- Oct. 27, 2026
- Partner
- Jenna Dewan
- Replacement dancer
- Alan Bersten
- Return performance
- Argentine tango
- Return score
- 37/40
5 sources
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Val Chmerkovskiy Apologizes to Jenna Dewan on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ Carrie Ann Inaba Praises His Choreography After Controversy
Val Chmerkovskiy addresses ‘chaos’ of suspension in ‘Dancing With the Stars’ return
What people are saying
We are back together
I am so sorry for all the chaos. You did not sign up for that, and I feel awful
I forgive you
I missed you