See Carrie Ann Inaba, Val Chmerkovskiy Embrace After His Suspension
‘Dancing With the Stars' Pro Val Chmerkovskiy Apologizes to Partner Jenna Dewan on Show After Suspension
Carrie Ann Inaba and Val Chmerkovskiy are getting back on beat.
After the Dancing With the Stars professional was given a one-week suspension for a social media comment directed at the judge, the duo appeared to bury the beef in the ballroom.
Case in point: Chmerkovskiy headed over to the judges’ table after the Oct. 27 taping and embraced Inaba while the pair appeared to talk intently.
Chmerkovskiy completed his suspension during the Oct. 20 episode after posting a since-deleted comment on TikTok expressing frustration for Inaba’s critique of his wife Jenna Johnson during the previous episode.
Meanwhile, the 40-year-old also expressed an apology to his celebrity partner Jenna Dewan in rehearsal footage that was shared elsewhere during the latest DWTS episode.
“We are back together,” Chmerkovskiy told his partner. “I am so sorry for all the chaos. You did not sign up for that, and I feel awful.”
Dewan, for her part, wasted no time getting back in rhythm with Chmerkovskiy.
“I forgive you,” the Rookie star told him. “I missed you.”
Inaba also shared her perspective on the entire fallout, assuring there was no missteps between she and Johnson, despite her harsh criticism of Johnson including a life in her and celebrity partner Harry Shum Jr.’s Oct. 13 routine.
“I have not spoke about what happened because of professional courtesy for those who are still competing, and we actually have standards and practices that keep us separated,” Inaba wrote in an Instagram post Oct. 27. “But I think a part of this ‘headline’ has missed a few important parts of what happened.”
In fact, Inaba expressed that she did not realize her feedback had hurt Johnson at all.
Kirbie Johnson/Instagram
“I think it's important for everyone to know that Jenna and I hugged it out after the Super Bowl show,” she continued. “Jenna was an absolute professional about it, and two women worked through the moment. It came to my attention later that Jenna was deeply hurt."
Ultimately, Inaba was considering the entire ordeal as an opportunity for her to recalibrate her values as a judge.
“In the future if anything I say or do in my role as a judge to speak what I see and feel about your performance on this show hurts you in any way,” she added, “I am always open and available to listen, discuss and find a peaceful understanding.”
As she put it, “This has always been true…For me, it is my whole life's work.”
For a deeper look into the DWTS season 35 competitors, keep reading…
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa
You won't hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
The celebrity chef couldn't cha-cha-chop away the competition and was eliminated during the Sept. 22 episode.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart
Sadly, the former '90s teen heartthrob did not MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35. He and his pro partner were axed from the competition on Sept. 29.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov
The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills
Though her sister Brooks Nader was the fifth star to be eliminated on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star said goodbye to the competition after her debut episode on Sept. 16.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold
The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star followed his wife Whitney Leavitt's footsteps after her season 34 appearance, but he bid farwell to the season 35 competition during the Sept. 15 premiere.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jackson Olson & Emma Slater
The Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star was ready to learn some new moves, but his time on DWTS was cut short on Oct. 13.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
Even though Summer House star had fans screaming "bravo," she was eliminated from the competition on Oct. 6.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas
The Love Island U.K. alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience.
"I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."
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