Val Chmerkovskiy is speaking out after he was unceremoniously benched from Dancing With the Stars Dedication Night over his controversial comment about judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
“Hi everyone. As you may have seen in the news, I won’t be in the ballroom this week,” Chmerkovskiy, 40, wrote via his Instagram Stories on Saturday, October 17. “In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme to keep my wife’s name out of the conversation without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention.”
During the Tuesday, October 13, live episode of DWTS, judge Carrie Ann Inaba questioned whether Chmerkovskiy’s wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson, included an illegal lift in her samba with celebrity partner Harry Shum Jr. While Johnson, 32, later cleared the air with Inaba, 58, Chmerkovskiy took to social media and appeared to threaten to slap the ballroom judge. (He issued a public apology to Inaba days later.)
“Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was,” he stressed on Saturday. “The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner, Jenna Dewan, is putting in.”
Chmerkovskiy and Dewan, 45, were planning to perform a Viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers in honor of the actress’ mother, Nancy, during the Tuesday, October 20, live show. In light of the three-time mirrorball champ’s controversial comments, DWTS announced on Saturday that he will no longer participate on the broadcast.
“Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna and the whole DWTS family lots of love during Dedication Night,” Chmerkovskiy concluded his statement. “I’ll be watching and cheering everyone on!!”
In light of Chmerkovskiy’s one-week suspension, a spokesperson for BBC Studios issued a statement on the show’s behalf.
“The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable,” the rep told Us in a statement. “Val’s social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show. As a result, he will not participate in next week’s show.”
Johnson, for her part, has not publicly addressed her husband’s comments or suspension. She did comment on Shum’s recent Instagram post celebrating the entire cast with a subtle heart emoji.
“Reminder that this is a dance show. It is supposed to be joyous,” Shum, 44, wrote via Instagram on Friday, October 16. “People are suffering in the world already, so let’s celebrate each other with more love.”
Shum subsequently offered compliments to his fellow DWTS competitors, including Dewan.
“I’ve admired you ever since I met you several decades ago,” he wrote about The Rookie star. “You are a powerhouse of a performer, but the thing I remember most is how nice and gracious you were to me when I was a young creative trying to figure this industry out. Watching you take criticism with grace and just laying it all out on the dance floor each week, I go: ‘That’s the Jenna I know and love.’”
Dewan will partner with Alan Bersten in Chmerkovskiy’s absence.
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
