Dancing With The Stars Val Suspension
In short
Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy has been suspended from Dancing With the Stars following an inappropriate joke directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The suspension was announced ahead of the Dedication Night episode on 20 October 2026.
In plain words
Val Chmerkovskiy was punished for making a controversial comment to defend his wife, Jenna Johnson. The joke reportedly referenced the Will Smith Oscars incident. The show addressed his absence during the recent live broadcast.
A simple example
Chmerkovskiy made a joke towards Carrie Ann Inaba while attempting to defend Jenna Johnson from her critiques. This led to his immediate removal from the week's scheduled performances.
Why it matters
This marks a significant moment of controversy for the programme, causing a crisis regarding viewer likability. It also highlights how the show manages professional conduct and disciplinary actions on live television.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse this disciplinary suspension with a contestant being eliminated from the competition.
Sources
- 'Dancing with the Stars' stumbles into likability crisis after Val suspension
- Val Chmerkovskiy suspended from ‘Dancing With the Stars’ after inappropriate joke to judge
- How ‘Dancing With the Stars’ acknowledged Val Chmerkovskiy’s suspension drama on ‘Dedication Night’
- How 'Dancing with the Stars' handled Val's suspension on Dedication Night