Val Chmerkovskiy returns to Dancing with the Stars after one-week suspension over slap joke
Pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy returned to Dancing with the Stars on Horror Movie Night after a one-week suspension for a social media post alluding to Will Smith's Oscars slap, made after judge Carrie Ann Inaba critiqued his wife Jenna Johnson's dance.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Val Chmerkovskiy, 40, returned to Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday 27 October, dancing an Argentine tango with partner Jenna Dewan, 45, on Horror Movie Night, after a one-week suspension. Daily MailR “Chmerkovskiy, 40, danced an Argentine tango with partner Jenna Dewan, 45, for the show's Horror Movie Night episode.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Val Chmerkovskiy returned to the Dancing With the Stars ballroom for Tuesday night’s Horror Movie episode after his one-week suspension” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Mixed · 2The suspension followed a critique by longtime judge Carrie Ann Inaba of Chmerkovskiy's wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson, and her partner Harry Shum Jr. after a samba; Inaba objected to a lift, read out a definition of one from a piece of paper, and gave the pair an eight. Daily MailR “Inaba ultimately gave them a score of eight.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Inaba brought out a piece of paper with the definition of lift, which she read during the live episode” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Mixed · 2The day after that episode, Chmerkovskiy posted a TikTok Story, since deleted, that read: 'You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.' Many fans took it as a reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. Daily MailR “While he did not specify what he meant, many fans thought he was referring to Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Will Smith slapping Chris Rock” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC ““You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.”” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Mixed · 2Inaba responded on Instagram by resharing a screenshot of coverage with the words 'So this is what we are doing now?'. Chmerkovskiy apologised publicly and said they had reached out to Inaba directly. Daily MailR “Inaba responded by posting a screenshot of an article covering Chmerkovskiy's comment to Instagram and writing: 'So this is what we are doing now?'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “He subsequently apologized to the longtime DWTS judge in an Instagram statement” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Right · 1BBC Studios confirmed the one-week suspension, which the Daily Mail said was the first time a pro had been suspended in the show's history. It told Deadline that the post 'was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show'. Daily MailR “BBC Studios confirmed Saturday that he would be off the series for one week, marking the first time in the history of the show that a pro has been suspended.”“'Val’s social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1Chmerkovskiy said through a representative that their instinct was to defend their wife and that they referenced a meme to 'keep my wife's name' out of the conversation, without thinking through what else it might imply. They said it was never their intention to imply a threat. Daily MailR “I made a poor decision to reference a meme to "keep my wife’s name" out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Daily MailR “Chmerkovskiy later clarified that he was referring to the 'keep my wife's name' portion of the incident.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1Anonymous sources gave the Daily Mail conflicting accounts. One insider said Inaba was 'furious' and called the post a threat, and another source close to Chmerkovskiy said the dancer 'would never do anything violent' and was only trash-talking. None of these claims was attributed on the record. Daily MailR “'She was not going to let that s*** go. She was furious. Livid. She said it was a threat and that something needed to be done.”“'Val is a lover, not a fighter,' the source told the Daily Mail.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Alan Bersten replaced Chmerkovskiy as Dewan's partner during the suspension week. The Hollywood Reporter said the show barely addressed the absence on Dedication Night: co-host Alfonso Ribeiro said only 'Val is not with us this week.' Daily MailR “Last week Dewan joined forces with DWTS pro Alan Bersten, who replaced Chmerkovskiy amid his suspension.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “the only reference to his nonattendance was made by co-host Alfonso Ribeiro noting at the top of the episode, “Val is not with us this week.”” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 1The return was acknowledged in a pretaped segment before the tango, in which Chmerkovskiy told Dewan 'I am so sorry for all the chaos' and Dewan replied 'I forgive you'. Inaba and Derek Hough then praised the choreography, and the show did not mention the controversy again. The Hollywood ReporterLC ““I am so sorry for all the chaos. You did not sign up for that, and I feel awful.” She responded, “I forgive you,” and they shared a hug.”“The situation was not further acknowledged during Tuesday night’s DWTS episode” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Mixed · 2Dewan and Chmerkovskiy scored 37 out of 40 and survived a double elimination, while Johnson and Shum Jr. scored a perfect 40. Inaba said she teared up during their dance. Daily MailR “the pair scoring a 37 out of 40.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “the couple survived the double elimination, meaning they’ll be back for next week’s Disney-theme installment.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Mixed · 2Inaba broke her silence in Instagram comments, saying she had 'hugged it out' with Johnson after the episode and that 'two women worked through the moment'. She said she later learned Johnson was 'deeply hurt' and offered to talk with Johnson and to discuss the lift rule. She also proposed a new lift rule for next season, to be worked out in a session with dancers and judges. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Jenna and I hugged it out after the Super Bowl show. Jenna was an absolute professional about it, and two women worked through the moment.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Daily MailR “I think in the future, a new lift rule should be created for next season.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Hollywood Reporter treats the story as an on-air question: how, and whether, the show would address the return after the suspension, and walks through what was and was not said.
- Emphasis
- Broadcast details such as the pretaped apology to Dewan, Ribeiro's one-line mention the week before, Inaba's praise of the choreography, and Inaba's lift-rule proposal.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the unnamed-insider claims about Inaba's reaction and Johnson's feelings, and the BBC Studios statement on the suspension.
- For example
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“How — and if — DWTS was going to address Chmerkovskiy’s return to the show with Jenna Dewan after the controversy was a big question heading into Tuesday’s episode” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre1 outlet
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Daily Mail covers the return as celebrity drama, with a rehearsal reunion piece and a face-to-face with Inaba piece, using anonymous insiders and quotes from social media and statements.
- Emphasis
- Insider accounts of Inaba's anger, a split among cast and crew, and Johnson's worry about her chances. It also covers the scores and the BBC Studios statement.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not describe the pretaped apology to Dewan or how the episode handled the return. Dates the Oscars slap inconsistently (2023 in one piece, 2022 in the other).
- Charged language
- “controversial joke”“furious backlash”“temporary boot”“face-to-face”
- For example
-
“Chmerkovskiy received a temporary boot from the show after he was accused of threatening to slap one of the judges” — Daily Mail
“Chmerkovskiy faced a furious backlash for the post and publicly apologized” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Chmerkovskiy was suspended for one week after a deleted post saying 'You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.'
- The post followed Inaba's critique of Jenna Johnson's samba over a lift.
- Chmerkovskiy apologised publicly and returned on Horror Movie Night, dancing an Argentine tango with Jenna Dewan.
- Inaba wrote that she and Johnson had resolved the moment and that a new lift rule should be considered.
Where accounts differ
-
What the post meant
- Left
- Reports that it was a reference to Will Smith's Oscars slap, made while criticising Inaba's judging.
- Right
- Reports that fans thought it referenced the slap. Insiders said Inaba saw it as a threat, while a source close to Chmerkovskiy said it was trash talk and Chmerkovskiy said it was a meme about 'keep my wife's name'.
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Which platform and which episode
- Left
- Describes a TikTok Story posted a day after Super Bowl Night.
- Right
- Calls it a TikTok Story in one passage and an Instagram post in another. Dates the episode to October 13.
Val Chmerkovskiy person
Chmerkovskiy apologised, saying the reference was bad judgment meant to defend their wife and not a threat. In the pretaped segment, they apologised to Dewan for 'the chaos'.
“In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme” — Daily Mail
““I am so sorry for all the chaos. You did not sign up for that, and I feel awful.”” — The Hollywood Reporter
Carrie Ann Inaba person
Inaba says the story missed important parts, that she and Johnson resolved the moment, and that the lift rule should be revisited next season. She praised Chmerkovskiy's choreography on air.
““Incredible choreography, Val. I wanna say that first. Incredible,”” — The Hollywood Reporter
“I think a part of this 'headline' has missed a few important parts of what happened.” — Daily Mail
Jenna Dewan person
Dewan welcomed Chmerkovskiy back to rehearsals, promoting the tango on Instagram, and told them 'I forgive you' on the show.
“Jenna Dewan welcomed her Dancing With The Stars partner Val Chmerkovskiy back to rehearsals after his one-week suspension from the show.” — Daily Mail
“She responded, “I forgive you,” and they shared a hug.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Left1 article
-
How ‘DWTS’ Addressed Val Chmerkovskiy’s Return to the Ballroom After His Suspension
Neutral Measured account of how the episode handled the return, with detail on on-air moments and Inaba's comments.
Centre1 article
Right2 articles
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Mixed Reunion piece that leans on anonymous insiders and a long recap of the controversy.
-
Mixed Frames the return as a face-to-face with Inaba, then reports the scores and Inaba's statement.
- 26 Oct 06:31 First Daily MailR Jenna Dewan reunites with DWTS partner Val Chmerkovskiy as he returns from one-week suspension over controversial joke
- 28 Oct 01:04 +42h 33m Daily MailR Val Chmerkovskiy comes face-to-face with Carrie Ann Inaba as he returns to DWTS after one-week suspension over slap joke
- 28 Oct 02:19 +43h 48m The Hollywood ReporterLC How ‘DWTS’ Addressed Val Chmerkovskiy’s Return to the Ballroom After His Suspension
- 28 Oct 04:05 +45h 34m DeadlineN Carrie Ann Inaba & Val Chmerkovskiy Hug It Out After ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Suspension Drama
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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