DWTS Drama Explodes After Val Chmerkovskiy’s Suspension — Jenna Dewan Gets A New Partner As Carrie Ann Inaba Controversy Intensifies

Dancing With The Stars has made an unprecedented move by suspending professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy for one week after a controversial social media comment directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba. Now, his wife, Jenna Johnson, is preparing to take the ballroom floor with a different partner — and the drama behind the decision has become a major talking point among fans.

The controversy began after Jenna and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr., performed a Samba that drew criticism over an alleged illegal lift. Val rushed to defend his wife online, but a joke referencing Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap took the situation to another level.

Val has since apologised, acknowledging that his words were inappropriate and that he should have thought more carefully before posting.

Jenna Johnson Gets A New Partner

With Val sitting out for the week, Jenna will partner with Alan Bersten, who was previously eliminated from the competition alongside his celebrity partner, Giada De Laurentiis.

The pair are scheduled to perform a Viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers during Dedication Night.

The performance will be especially personal for Jenna, as she plans to dedicate it to her mother, Nancy.

The unexpected partnership comes at a difficult moment for the professional dancer, whose recent performance and subsequent disagreement with Carrie Ann have attracted considerable attention.

The Samba Criticism That Started The Dispute

The controversy erupted during Super Bowl Night, when Jenna and Harry performed a Samba.

Carrie Ann criticised the choreography over a lift, which is prohibited in the Samba under the show’s ballroom and Latin dance rules.

Jenna appeared surprised by the deduction because the lift involved two members of the dance troupe rather than Jenna herself lifting her celebrity partner.

The distinction quickly became a point of debate, with some viewers questioning whether the rules had been applied consistently.

After the performance, host Julianne Hough asked Jenna how she felt about the feedback. Jenna reiterated her surprise, explaining that she had not personally performed the lift.

Val’s Comments Spark A Bigger Controversy

Val took to TikTok to defend his wife, telling Carrie Ann to show Jenna more respect.

However, it was a second comment — later deleted — that triggered a stronger reaction.

Val wrote that viewers had “almost saw[n] Fresh Prince enter the ballroom,” an apparent reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

The comparison was widely viewed as inappropriate, given the physical confrontation it referenced.

Carrie Ann subsequently shared coverage of the comment on Instagram, adding: “So this is what we are doing now?”

The incident prompted the show to suspend Val for one week, marking what the report describes as the first professional dancer suspension in the programme’s history.

Val Issues A Public Apology

Val later confirmed that he had contacted Carrie Ann privately to apologise and also issued a public apology on Instagram.

He acknowledged that he should not have made the reference and said he deeply regretted his words.

He also recognised that his public platform carried responsibilities, explaining that he needed to pause and think more carefully before posting.

His apology followed criticism of the comparison, even as some fans continued to debate the original lift ruling.

The Lift Rule Debate Continues

Val’s brother, former DWTS professional Maks Chmerkovskiy, also weighed in on the controversy during a podcast with former professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd.

Maks questioned whether the lift rule had been applied consistently, echoing concerns raised by some viewers about the distinction between a celebrity being lifted by their professional partner and being lifted by members of the dance troupe.

Others pointed to previous performances in which troupe-assisted lifts had apparently been accepted, arguing that the circumstances deserved closer examination.

The disagreement has therefore developed into two separate debates: whether the Samba deduction was justified and whether Val’s response crossed a line.

What Happens Next?

For Jenna, the focus now turns to her upcoming performance with Alan Bersten.

The new partnership gives her an opportunity to continue competing while Val serves his suspension. Their Viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody” will also offer a more emotional moment during Dedication Night.

Meanwhile, Val’s apology has addressed his own comments, but the wider discussion about the lift rule and judging consistency continues among fans.

A Controversial Deduction. A Deleted Joke. An Unprecedented Suspension. And Now, Jenna Johnson Must Take The Ballroom Floor With A New Partner — All While The DWTS Drama Continues.