Val Chmerkovskiy's Will Smith Reference Costs Him a Week on DWTS

A single social media post referencing one of Hollywood's most discussed moments has rippled outward into the world of competitive ballroom television, pulling Will Smith's name back into the cultural conversation and resulting in real professional consequences for Dancing With the Stars veteran Val Chmerkovskiy. The incident has overshadowed what was otherwise designed to be the season's most emotionally resonant episode.

The Post That Started It All

Following Super Bowl Night on Season 35, Chmerkovskiy took to TikTok to defend his wife and fellow DWTS pro Jenna Johnson against criticism leveled by judge Carrie Ann Inaba. In doing so, he invoked imagery that proved impossible to walk back, writing, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night" — a clear allusion to Will Smith's now-notorious 2022 Oscars confrontation with Chris Rock. The implication that he had nearly turned to physical confrontation in defense of his wife landed poorly with producers, fellow cast members, and the wider public alike.

Inaba responded on Instagram, resharing a screenshot of the post alongside images of both Smith and Chmerkovskiy, simply writing, "So this is what we are doing now?" — a measured but pointed rebuke. Chmerkovskiy issued a formal apology on Instagram the following day, but the damage had been done. BBC Studios, the production company behind the series, announced on Saturday that he would sit out the following episode. Their statement was unambiguous: "Val's social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show."

It's worth noting that the Oscars slap has proven remarkably durable as a cultural reference point. Bill Maher revisited the incident in a recent Real Time monologue, a reminder that Smith's single unscripted moment in March 2022 continues to define much of the public's perception of him, even as his film career pushes forward — most recently with projects like the action-thriller Supermax, which has been attracting notable co-stars.

Dedication Night Proceeds Without Its Star Pro

With Chmerkovskiy suspended, Jenna Johnson danced with formerly eliminated pro Alan Bersten for Dedication Night, according to The Hollywood Reporter, earning a strong 36 out of 40 from the judges alongside partner Harry Shum Jr. The episode itself was structured around tributes — each celebrity dedicating their performance to a meaningful person or place — and produced some genuinely affecting television despite the off-floor controversy.

Among the night's highlights: Julia Stiles dedicated her dance to her 10 Things I Hate About You co-star Heath Ledger, a tribute that carried obvious emotional weight given Ledger's passing in 2008. Tatyana Ali honored her Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star James Avery, joined in the ballroom by show co-host Alfonso Ribeiro — a reunion that carried its own layered resonance given that Chmerkovskiy's offending post had invoked the Fresh Prince name in an entirely different context. It's a show that remains remarkably present in the cultural imagination; the original series has been climbing streaming charts again in recent months, underscoring just how potent the IP remains.

The full scores for Dedication Night were as follows: Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas (35/40), Jackson Olson and Emma Slater (32/40), Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov (38/40), Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess (32/40), Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold (32/40), Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa (36/40), Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik (32/40), Jenna Dewan and Alan Bersten (37/40), Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson (36/40), and Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach (37/40). No elimination took place this week, though a double elimination is set for next week's Horror Movie-themed episode.

What Comes Next

BBC Studios' statement stopped short of a permanent dismissal, and language in their announcement suggests Chmerkovskiy is expected to return for the horror-themed episode the following week. Whether the one-week absence serves as a genuine reset or a lingering distraction for the show remains to be seen. For now, the incident stands as yet another reminder that the 2022 Oscars slap continues to function as a kind of cultural shorthand — one that carries enough charged meaning to derail even a casual social media aside.

Dancing With the Stars Season 35 airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.