DWTS' Val Chmerkovskiy Addresses Rumors He Unfollowed Alan Bersten
Did DWTS’ Carrie Ann Inaba File Complaint About Val Chmerkovskiy? The Truth About His Suspension
Val Chmerkovskiy is stepping up to support Alan Bersten.
Amid the Dancing With the Star pro’s one-week suspension from the ABC competition series, Chmerkovskiy addressed the rumors that he unfollowed his fellow dance pro on Instagram after Bersten was revealed as his replacement to compete with Jenna Dewan for Dedication Night Oct. 20.
“Thank you for stepping in and doing such an amazing job,” Chmerkovskiy commented on Bersten’s Oct. 20 Instagram post. “Jenna looks so good and most importantly happy.”
And clearing up any rumors about unfollowing Bersten, the 40-year-old set the record straight, writing, “You’re my new favorite follow.”
As for Bersten—who was eliminated in week two alongside partner Giada De Laurentiis—the 32-year-old wrote in his post that he was “so honored to be stepping in and dancing” with Dewan as she dedicated her dance on the Oct. 20 episode to her mom, Nancy Lee Bursch.
“You are such a light,” Bersten said alongside several pics of himself and Dewan in the ballroom, “and it’s so beautiful to see you and your mom share the floor.”
And Chmerkovskiy has been in step with Team Bersten since it was first announced he would be taking over, with a source telling E! News that he “fully trusts Alan to manage this week and is grateful that he’s stepped in.”
The three-time Mirrorball champ was suspended for one week from DWTS after alluding to the infamous Oscars moment between Will Smith and Chris Rock on his TikTok status following an awkward interaction between his wife Jenna Johnson and judge Carrie Ann Inaba on the Oct. 13 episode.
Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images
However, Chmerkovskiy noted that he was only referring to Smith telling Rock to “keep my wife’s name out your f--king mouth,” and not the slap that followed.
“As you may have seen in the news, I won't be in the ballroom this week,” he wrote on his Instagram Stories Oct. 17. “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.”
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“Carrie Ann certainly didn't deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was,” the 40-year-old continued. “The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is putting in.”
For a look at all the stars hoping to dance their way to the famed Mirrorball, 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.
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Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold
The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.
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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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