Carrie Ann Inaba and Val Chmerkovskiy Resolve Conflict Following First Pro Dancer Suspension

Val Chmerkovskiy returned to the “Dancing with the Stars” ballroom on October 27, 2026, marking the end of a week-long absence that saw the first professional dancer suspension in the show’s 20-year history. Following the live “Horror Movie Night” broadcast, Chmerkovskiy and judge Carrie Ann Inaba reconciled through what the dancer described as a “cathartic” conversation.

The tension between the two culminated in an on-camera embrace after Chmerkovskiy and his partner, Jenna Dewan, performed. The resolution follows a period of internal drama that began during the October 13 episode, sparked by a scoring disagreement and a subsequent social media post.

The ‘Fresh Prince’ Reference and Suspension

The conflict originated from a “lift gate” controversy where Inaba criticized Chmerkovskiy’s wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson, for performing an illegal lift during a routine. In a defensive response posted to a TikTok story, Val Chmerkovskiy wrote, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.”

The remark was a direct reference to the 2022 Oscars incident where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. According to reports, Inaba felt threatened by the implication of the joke and raised the issue with BBC Studios production. The production company subsequently issued a one-week suspension, which prevented Chmerkovskiy from appearing on the October 20 “Dedication Night” episode.

The one-week suspension followed a social media post that was raised to BBC Studios production.

During the suspension, pro Alan Bersten stepped in to partner with Jenna Dewan. The move was a first professional dancer suspension for the franchise, which had previously navigated various controversies without sidelining its core cast in such a manner.

Reconciliation and Safety

Following the performance on October 27, Chmerkovskiy and Inaba spoke to clear the air.

Chmerkovskiy later expressed that the post-show conversation provided “cathartic relief” for both parties. He noted that it was important to him that Inaba felt safe in the workplace and acknowledged that his choice of words had unintended consequences.

The reconciliation appears to have stabilized the production as it moves into the latter half of the season. The live hug and the subsequent private discussion were viewed by production as a necessary step to ensure the professional environment remained intact following the unprecedented disciplinary action.

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