Val Chmerkovskiy Suspended From ‘Dancing With the Stars’ — Alan Bersten Steps In for Dedication Night

Photo: Dancing With the Stars / ABC via YouTube (frame grab).

There’s a big shake-up in the ballroom tonight. Dancing With the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy will be sitting out Dedication Night after BBC Studios, the company that produces the show, handed him a one-week suspension — and according to People, it’s the first time a pro dancer has ever been suspended in the show’s history.

It all started on the Tuesday, October 13 episode, when judge Carrie Ann Inaba flagged an illegal lift in the samba performed by Val’s wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson. The next day, Val jumped on social media to defend his wife with a post that read, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night” — a reference to Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap. The post was quickly deleted, but the damage was done.

Photo: Dancing With the Stars / ABC via YouTube (frame grab).

Val has since apologized both publicly and privately to Inaba, saying it was poor judgment in a moment where his instinct was to stand up for his wife. BBC Studios announced the suspension on Saturday, October 17, saying the well-being of everyone on the show is non-negotiable and that the post did not reflect the show’s values.

Watch Val and Jenna’s Super Bowl Night paso doble — the performance from the night this all began:

Photo: Dancing With the Stars / ABC via YouTube (frame grab).

So who dances with Val’s celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, tonight? Alan Bersten is stepping in. The pair will perform a Viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody” for Dedication Night, and Dewan is dedicating the routine to her mother, Nancy — which makes tonight’s dance a personal one, no matter who’s leading it.

Val is expected back after his one week on the sidelines. Dedication Night airs tonight, Tuesday, October 20, on ABC.