Val Chmerkovskiy is speaking out after he appeared to jokingly threaten to slap Carrie Ann Inaba following the judge’s tense exchange with Jenna Johnson on Dancing With the Stars.
“I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post,” he wrote via his Instagram Story on Thursday, October 15. “I have reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly and personally and I also want to apologize publicly as I understand my words affect so many outside our internal DWTS family. I should never have made the reference that I did and I deeply regret it. I recognize that I am in a fortunate position to have a platform and to be a role model to some, and I need to treat that with more care by actively pausing to think before I post to ensure what I am sharing aligns with who I am, and who I want to be for you all.”
Chmerkovskiy continued, “I am truly sorry to Carrie Ann, and everyone I hurt with my careless post. I will do better moving forward. ❤️”
The controversy began when Johnson, 32, and Harry Shum Jr. performed a samba to Usher’s “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris during the Tuesday, October 13, Super Bowl Night episode — and Inaba critiqued the season 35 routine for featuring an illegal lift.
“I think you need to put more content in your dances. Especially because [Harry’s] so good, I want to see you challenge yourself a little bit more in the vein of what we’re looking for. And there was a lift,” Inaba said, while Johnson appeared shocked and replied, “A lift?”
Inaba proceeded to read the definition of a lift off a piece of paper. “A lift is — I just need to say it — any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner. Yeah, lift,” she said.
Johnson and Shum Jr. ultimately received a combined score of 33 out of 40 from Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli and guest judge Joe Buck and were safe from elimination. (Jimmy Kimmel’s sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, and partner Witney Carson exited the competition on Tuesday.)
“I like to take risks, but I also love rules,” Johnson told Extra on Tuesday following the show. “And I said that to [Carrie Ann] afterwards; I went up to her … so I hear and respect the judges, absolutely.”
After the episode, Chmerkovskiy made headlines when he appeared to reference Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum Will Smith infamously slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars for making a G.I. Jane joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, who has battled alopecia.
“You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” Chmerkovskiy wrote in a since-deleted TikTok, sparking backlash online.
Inaba took to Instagram to respond to the remark, asking, “So this is what we are doing now?” She also shared a screenshot of Page Six’s post featuring Chmerkovskiy and Smith side-by-side with the professional dancer’s comment.
Inaba added, “Thank you @pagesix and @entertainmentweekly for bringing this to my attention.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
