It appears that Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba is ready to forgive and forget the drama involving pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy.
In a tender behind-the-scenes moment filmed during Tuesday, October 27’s Horror Movie Night, Inaba, 58, was seen holding the shoulders of Chmerkovskiy, 40, as he held two hands around her waist. Shared across Instagram following the show’s airing, the video footage also captured the pair softly speaking and nodding to one another before they went in for a hug.
The moment came amid Chmerkovskiy’s return to the reality TV dancing competition following a one-week suspension for posting controversial social media comments directed at Inaba. (Chmerkovskiy had referenced Will Smith’s notorious 2022 Oscars slap while defending his wife, Jenna Johnson, after she received ballroom criticism from Inaba.)
According to a report by People on Tuesday night, Inaba acknowledged that their moment was attracting attention, turning to the crowd to say, “So everyone’s staring. We are coworkers and we are completely cordial. We are good, OK?”
The outlet also revealed that Chmerkovskiy was glad to have shared the moment with Inaba. “It felt cathartic relief, you know?” he said during an interview conducted after the pair’s reunion. “I think it was just really important for me to make sure that she feels safe and knows that, firsthand from me, I want nothing but love for her.”
He continued, “I want nothing but joy for her and as much as the world might say otherwise, I want her to know how I feel, not how others want me to feel, but how I genuinely feel. I will have nothing but love for Carrie Ann. I have nothing but respect for what she has to say.”
Inaba had this week taken to Instagram to let everyone know that she had also cleared the air with Johnson, 32, after tensions arose on October 13’s Super Bowl Night when Inaba called out an illegal lift in Johnson’s samba with partner Harry Shum Jr.
“I have not spoken about what happened because of professional courtesy for those who are still competing, and we actually have standards and practices that keep us separated. But I think a part of this ‘headline’ has missed a few important parts of what happened,” Inaba wrote in the comments section of an Instagram post that featured photos from season 35’s Dedication Night. “I think it’s important for everyone to know that Jenna and I hugged it out after the Super Bowl show. Jenna was an absolute professional about it, and two women worked through the moment.”
Despite the drama seemingly closed for good, Tuesday’s Horror Movie Night provided plenty to entertain DWTS fans. A shock double elimination saw Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess, as well as Jackson Olson and Emma Slater bid farewell to the ballroom.
