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Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba took to Instagram on Tuesday evening amid an ongoing controversy on the show, after pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended over a comment he made to the judge last week.
Inaba, 58, posted a black-and-white shot of the ballroom on the ABC series, saying she was 'looking forward to a heartfelt night of dedications' on the TV competition.
The judge captioned the shot, 'Always and forever team Dancing with the Stars,' with emojis of a heart and mirrorball.
Chmerkovskiy, 40, was suspended for a week over a remark he posted to social media following Inaba's critique of his wife Jenna Johnson over her inclusion of a lift during her October 13 dance routine with Harry Shum Jr.
Inaba said that the move did not adhere to standards of the samba, classifying it as 'any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner.'
Chmerkovskiy the next day said in a TikTok post (he later deleted), 'You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.'
Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba, 58, took to Instagram on Tuesday evening amid an ongoing controversy on the show, after pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, 40, was suspended over a comment he made to the judge last week
Inaba posted a black-and-white shot of the ballroom on the ABC series, saying she was 'looking forward to a heartfelt night of dedications' on the TV competition
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Chmerkovskiy, Inaba, ABC and BBC for further comment on the story.
The comment alluded to Will Smith's infamous slap of Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars after Rock joked about Smith's spouse Jada Pinkett Smith.
Chmerkovskiy left another remark on a different clip which showed him watching the score, writing, 'Puts some respect on her name. Shes trippin talking to her like that.'
On Saturday, BBC Studios issued a statement to The Daily Mail confirming Chmerkovskiy's suspension, saying that '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.'
Pro dancer Alan Bersten will fill in for Chmerkovskiy and dance with Jenna Dewan this week.
Chmerkovskiy had been told he'd been suspended for an episode due to company procedure, a source close to the situation told TMZ Monday.
Reports were varied as to how Inaba reacted to the social media post, as a source told TMZ Monday she reported Chmerkovskiy to the human resources department for the show's production company BBC Studios.
Inaba, who had felt 'threatened' by the comment, 'demanded' a response from the organization in the wake of the remark, one source told the outlet.
Chmerkovskiy pictured with wife Jenna Johnson and their son Rome last year in LA
Inaba was upset by the comments and reported them to the human resources department for the show's production company BBC Studios, a source close to the situation said
Chmerkovskiy on October 14 said in a social media post (he later deleted), 'You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night'
In the wake of his suspension, Chmerkovskiy issued a statement on Instagram apologizing to the judge for his social media posts referring to the Smith incident
A separate source told TMZ that the probe had actually begun after BBC Studios officials saw Chmerkovskiy's comment.
An insider told E! News Tuesday that Inaba had not filed any complaints to HR officials prior to Chmerkovskiy's suspension.
In the wake of his suspension, Chmerkovskiy issued a statement on Instagram apologizing to the judge for his social media posts referring to the Smith incident.
'In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, 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,' Chmerkovskiy said. 'Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was.'
Chmerkovskiy said in his statement that 'the last thing' he sought was 'to become a distraction' as the season moves forward. He added, 'Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna, and the whole DWTS family lots of love during Dedication Night. I’ll be watching and cheering everyone on!!'
Chmerkovskiy has not previously had any complaints filed against him, insiders told TMZ, and accepted the decision as he prepares for his comeback next week.
Amid the controversy, a source close to the show told The Daily Mail on Tuesday that Johnson 'loves that her man stuck up for her but also wishes he had chosen a different approach.
'She was annoyed with Val because she wants to win the show – you get more money and more clout. It's a competitive show and also their livelihood, and at the end of the day if all were to fall apart, Jenna and Val know bosses would keep Carrie over them.'
The source added that 'to settle it all as quickly as it started was a must.'
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