Val Chmerkovskiy Reportedly Suspended From Next DWTS Episode

Val Chmerkovskiy is reportedly set to miss the next episode of Dancing With the Stars after referencing the 2022 Oscars slap involving Will Smith and Chris Rock. Jenna Dewan is expected to perform with professional dancer Alan Bersten instead.

Reports describe the change as either Chmerkovskiy’s removal from the episode or a suspension. However, the available coverage does not include a detailed official statement from Dancing With the Stars, ABC, Disney, or Chmerkovskiy explaining the decision. The reports also do not confirm how long the suspension could last or whether Chmerkovskiy will return later in the season.

What Happened to Val Chmerkovskiy on Dancing With the Stars?

Chmerkovskiy Was Reportedly Removed From the Next Episode

Multiple reports say Chmerkovskiy will not appear as Dewan’s professional partner in the next episode. One report links his absence to a reference involving Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. Another describes Chmerkovskiy as serving a suspension. Source 1

The available summaries do not establish:

• The exact date of the affected episode.
• The length or terms of the reported suspension.
• The complete wording of Chmerkovskiy’s reference.
• Whether the remark occurred on-air, during rehearsal, or backstage.
• The official reason given by the show’s producers.
• Whether Chmerkovskiy will return for the following episode.

For that reason, “reported suspension” and “reported removal” are more accurate than treating the disciplinary action as fully confirmed.

Jenna Dewan Is Expected to Perform With Alan Bersten

Dewan is expected to dance with Bersten while Chmerkovskiy is absent. The reported partner change does not mean that Dewan has withdrawn, received a penalty, or been eliminated.

The report identifying Bersten as Dewan’s replacement connects the arrangement to Chmerkovskiy’s reported suspension. Source 5

A substitute professional may need to learn or revise choreography quickly. Dewan and Bersten must also adjust to differences in lead style, frame, timing, spacing, and physical connection. Their available rehearsal time could determine how extensively the routine changes.

Why the Oscars Slap Reference Became Central to the Story

During the 2022 Academy Awards, Will Smith walked onto the stage and struck presenter Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith later apologized publicly, and the Academy banned him from its events for 10 years.

The incident became one of the most discussed moments in recent awards-show history because it involved physical violence during a live broadcast. That history helps explain why a reference to the incident could attract attention on a high-profile entertainment program.

However, the available reports do not provide the exact comment, the surrounding conversation, or the production context. Source 3

The reference could have been made during a broadcast, rehearsal, scripted segment, choreographed performance, or private conversation. The reports do not say whether it involved another participant or prompted a complaint. Those details should not be filled in through speculation.

Jenna Dewan and Alan Bersten’s Temporary Partnership

Dewan is expected to remain in the competition and perform with Bersten. Her partner change should not be confused with a withdrawal or elimination.

The pair may need to relearn lifts and transitions, adjust hand placement and spacing, revise turns and assisted movements, and rehearse new safety procedures. Bersten’s experience may help preserve the scheduled performance, but a last-minute change can still affect timing and performance confidence.

The routine could closely follow the original choreography or include substantial revisions. Producers and dancers may remove complex lifts, simplify transitions, change entrances and exits, or adapt the staging to Bersten’s partnering style.

No supplied source confirms whether the judging panel will apply a special rule because of the partner change. There is no verified information about bonus points, scoring adjustments, or penalties.

What Is Known About Chmerkovskiy’s Return?

The details repeated across the available reports are:

1. Chmerkovskiy is reportedly absent from the next episode.
2. Dewan is reportedly dancing with Bersten.
3. The reported action is connected to a reference involving the 2022 Oscars incident.
4. Some coverage describes Chmerkovskiy as serving a suspension.

Important questions remain unanswered, including how long the suspension will last, whether Chmerkovskiy apologized, whether the show issued a formal statement, and whether he will return in the following episode. The reports also do not establish whether Bersten will remain Dewan’s partner beyond the affected episode. Source 5

Until Dancing With the Stars, ABC, Disney, or the dancers provide further information, the duration and scope of the reported action remain unknown.

How Last-Minute Partner Changes Can Affect DWTS

Professional partners may change because of injury, illness, scheduling conflicts, production decisions, or disciplinary action. A replacement can allow a contestant to continue competing without postponing the episode.

The change can affect choreography, lifts, catches, timing, camera blocking, costumes, staging, and music cues. Movements that were safe with one professional may require modification with another because body mechanics, grip positions, and timing differ.

No supplied source confirms a special scoring policy for Dewan and Bersten. The scoring outcome should be assessed only after the episode airs and official results become available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Val Chmerkovskiy reportedly removed from the next DWTS episode?

Reports connect his reported removal or suspension to a reference involving Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap. The available coverage does not provide the complete wording or a detailed official explanation.

Who will dance with Jenna Dewan while Chmerkovskiy is absent?

Dewan is expected to dance with professional partner Alan Bersten during the affected episode.

Is Alan Bersten replacing Chmerkovskiy permanently?

No permanent change has been confirmed. The reports describe Bersten as a temporary replacement for the next episode.

Will Jenna Dewan continue competing?

The reports indicate that Dewan is expected to perform with Bersten. Her participation is separate from Chmerkovskiy’s reported suspension.

Will Chmerkovskiy return to DWTS?

The available reports do not state when or whether he will return. The suspension’s length and future partnership arrangements remain unclear.

Conclusion

Val Chmerkovskiy is reportedly out of the next Dancing With the Stars episode after a reference involving Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap. Jenna Dewan is expected to perform with Alan Bersten instead.

The reports describe the action as a removal or suspension, but they do not establish its duration, provide the complete wording of the reference, or confirm whether Chmerkovskiy will return. The next episode and official statements from the show or dancers should clarify the situation.