Dancing With the Stars Suspends Val Chmerkovskiy Over Will Smith Slap Meme

Val Chmerkovskiy has been removed from next week's episode of Dancing With the Stars. The move comes after the pro dancer posted a meme referencing Will Smith's slap of Chris Rock at the Oscars, which was aimed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

BBC Studios, the show's producer, issued a statement reported by Variety. It said the well-being of the staff is a top priority and called Chmerkovskiy's social media activity inappropriate, adding it fell short of the program's standards.

The controversy stems from an October 13 episode where Inaba critiqued Chmerkovskiy's wife, pro dancer Jenna Johnson, for including a lift in her routine. In response, Chmerkovskiy posted a since-deleted TikTok story that read, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night," a clear nod to the 2022 Oscars incident.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chmerkovskiy's current celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, will still perform on the upcoming Dedication Night. She will be paired with previously eliminated pro Alan Bersten for a Viennese waltz.

Chmerkovskiy posted an apology on his Instagram Story, per both outlets. He stated he made a "poor decision" to use the meme while trying to defend his wife and apologized directly to Inaba.