Brief
Val Chmerkovskiy jokes about Carrie Ann Inaba’s car weeks before suspension
The DWTS pro’s car‑key joke preceded a week‑long suspension over an “inappropriate” TikTok meme.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Val Chmerkovskiy, the 40‑year‑old professional dancer on "Dancing With the Stars," joked on Sept. 29 that he knew where judge Carrie Ann Inaba parks her car, weeks before a TikTok post led to his temporary suspension.
What happened
During an Entertainment Tonight interview on Sept. 29, Chmerkovskiy was asked about Inaba’s criticism of his partner Jenna Dewan’s samba performance. He replied, “I know where [Inaba] parks her car,” and added a quip about giving the car a new “design.” The comment came two weeks before he posted a TikTok video that referenced Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap of Chris Rock, a meme the network deemed “inappropriate.” BBC Studios announced a one‑week suspension, stating the dancer’s post did not reflect the show’s values.
What the reports add
Page Six noted that Chmerkovskiy’s car‑key joke was made while discussing Dewan’s plan to apply Inaba’s feedback to future performances. The outlet also reported that representatives for Chmerkovskiy, Inaba and ABC did not respond to comment requests. It added that the dancer later took aim at Inaba on social media during the Oct. 13 episode, after Inaba called out his wife Jenna Johnson for a lift in her routine with Harry Shum Jr.
What was said
Chmerkovskiy said, “I’m just saying, like, if she doesn’t want a different design…,” during the interview, according to Page Six. He later apologized on Instagram Stories, calling his TikTok post a “poor decision.” BBC Studios issued a statement: “The well‑being of everyone who works on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is non‑negotiable. Val’s social media post … does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show.”
How it came about
The remark about Inaba’s car followed Inaba’s earlier critique of Dewan’s samba, which Dewan said she would take to heart. Two weeks after the Sept. 29 interview, Chmerkovskiy’s TikTok meme triggered the suspension, and he was replaced for the Oct. 20 “Dedication Night” episode by Alan Bernsten, as reported in Felo’s coverage of Dewan’s performance changes.
Key facts
- Val Chmerkovskiy joked he knew where Carrie Ann Inaba parks her car during a Sept. 29 interview. (nypost.com)
- He posted a TikTok meme referencing Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap, leading to a one‑week suspension. (nypost.com)
- BBC Studios said the post did not reflect the show’s values and emphasized staff well‑being. (nypost.com)
- Chmerkovskiy apologized on Instagram Stories, calling the decision poor. (nypost.com)
- Alan Bernsten replaced him for the Oct. 20 “Dedication Night” episode. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “‘DWTS’ pro Val Chmerkovskiy made eyebrow-raising remark about Carrie Ann Inaba pre-suspension”
