Emma Slater Defends Alan Bersten: He Replaces Suspended Val Chmerkovskiy on 'Dancing with the Stars'

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Emma Slater Defends Alan Bersten: He Replaces Suspended Val Chmerkovskiy on 'Dancing with the Stars'.

Emma Slater verteidigt Alan Bersten: Er ersetzt den suspendierten Val Chmerkovskiy bei 'Dancing with the Stars'.

Emma Slater has spoken up — and from an unusual position. Her boyfriend Alan Bersten is stepping in on "Dancing with the Stars" for the suspended Val Chmerkovskiy. Slater is putting herself in front of him before the comment sections have even really started debating why Val is out in the first place.

For fans of the U.S. dance show, this is a bombshell: mid-season, another pro has to step in — and his partner is reacting publicly right away, before the wave truly gets rolling.

What's known so far — and what isn't: The background to the suspension has not yet been officially explained, and Slater's own words have so far only come out in snippets. What remains is a clear show of solidarity: anyone coming for her boyfriend has to go through Emma.

What's confirmed so far

The personnel move

According to the U.S. celebrity outlet Just Jared, Emma Slater reached out to defend Alan Bersten. It had previously become known over the weekend before October 19, 2026, that Alan was set to replace the 40-year-old Val Chmerkovskiy after Val was suspended. The reshuffle is now official — the show is responding to the absence with a dancer from its own roster.

What still remains open

Exactly what Emma Slater said and which reactions she's looking to push back on has only been touched on in the coverage so far. Also still unclear: how long Alan Bersten is meant to fill in, which celebrity partner he will be paired with — and what specifically triggered Val's suspension. As long as the show or the network doesn't provide a detailed explanation, much remains vague.

Who's affected?

Emma Slater

She is speaking in this matter as a partner, not officially as a fellow DWTS cast member — exactly what she has said has so far only been documented in snippets.

Alan Bersten

A pro dancer on the show, now in a position that had previously been Val's. Bringing him onto that stage at short notice is a clear signal from the production.

Val Chmerkovskiy

40 years old, suspended. No further official details on the reasons appear in the available reporting.