DWTS Scandal: Val Chmerkovskiy Kicked Out After Slap Joke About Will Smith

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents DWTS Scandal: Val Chmerkovskiy Kicked Out After Slap Joke About Will Smith.

You may have already caught it on TikTok or in the tabloids: Val Chmerkovskiy, one of the best-known pro dancers on "Dancing with the Stars" (DWTS), has been suspended for one episode. The reason is a now-deleted social media post that pretty blatantly alluded to Will Smith's slap at the 2022 Oscars.

If you follow the show, this is more than just a minor scandal. It's a clear reaction from production company BBC Studios – and raises the question of how far a supposed joke can go when your own wife has just received a low jury score.

In Tuesday's episode, judge Carrie Ann Inaba gave Val's wife Jenna Johnson – herself a DWTS pro dancer – a low score. Immediately afterward, Val posted a TikTok that, according to multiple U.S. reports (Daily Mail, Deadline, USA Today), alluded to the moment Will Smith struck out live on stage at the 2022 Oscars ceremony. The post has since been deleted.

What BBC Studios says

The production company reacted quickly. In an official statement, quoted by the Hollywood Reporter among others, BBC Studios said verbatim:

The well-being of everyone who works on 'Dancing With the Stars' is non-negotiable. Val's social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show. As a result, he will not participate in next week's show.

That's a clear stance: the show does not tolerate posts that – regardless of whether they're meant as jokes – can be read as threats against jury members. According to TMZ, the joke made it look as if he wanted to "almost hit" a judge, and the Daily Mail adds that an actual threatened slap was even mentioned.

Who's dancing with whom now?

The immediate consequence of the suspension: Val sits out next week's episode. As the Hollywood Reporter reports, Jenna Dewan, who was supposed to dance with Val this season, will perform with Alan Bersten next week. For Bersten, it's a last-minute fill-in job.

According to People, this suspension is the first of any pro dancer in the entire history of "Dancing with the Stars". The fact that BBC Studios is cracking down so visibly on show veteran Val sends a signal: For the format, such posts are apparently existentially threatening – otherwise it wouldn't intervene in its own history.

Why the Will Smith comparison carries so much weight

The incident Val appeared to allude to was the infamous slap by Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars ceremony, which was broadcast live around the world. That scene – and not a comedy sketch – is the direct point of reference. That's exactly what makes the comparison so sensitive: when a DWTS pro makes that reference about a judge on his own show – even ironically – outrage is inevitable. And that outrage appears to be exactly why BBC Studios has reacted so quickly and decisively.

What you should keep an eye on now

What happens after the suspension is open. The statement only speaks of "next week's show" – everything beyond that is speculation. What's clear: if you keep following DWTS, it's worth watching the next episode, in which Bersten and Dewan will dance together, as well as Val's further social media activity.