DWTS swaps out suspended Val Chmerkovskiy for eliminated pro Alan Bersten

Key points

• Val Chmerkovskiy suspended for one week by producer BBC Studios.
• Jenna Dewan will dance with Alan Bersten on Oct. 20.
• The suspension follows a TikTok post referencing the 2022 Oscars slap.
• Chmerkovskiy apologized, calling his post 'careless' and 'poor judgment.'
• Dewan will perform a Viennese waltz dedicated to her mother.

Background

This incident follows the Week 2 elimination of Giada De Laurentiis, who was Chmerkovskiy's former partner. The current season has seen high ratings, with the 'Super Bowl Night' episode recently scoring a nine-year high among adults 18-49.

How outlets are covering it

All outlets (Page Six, Variety, Deadline, Us Weekly) agree on the suspension and the replacement partner. Variety and Deadline emphasize the producer's statement regarding staff well-being, while Page Six and Us Weekly focus on the specific dance details for Dewan. Deadline notes the controversy stemmed from Inaba's critique of Chmerkovskiy's wife, Jenna Johnson, during the 'Super Bowl Night' episode.

Why it matters

The suspension highlights the strict standards for social media conduct among DWTS professionals and the show's commitment to protecting its staff from perceived threats or harassment, even if implied through memes.

What to watch

Jenna Dewan and Alan Bersten will perform on Oct. 20. Chmerkovskiy is expected to return to the show after the one-week suspension, though his status for future weeks remains to be seen.