Jenna Dewan’s Fiancé Speaks Out After Val Chmerkovskiy's Suspension
Jenna Dewan's ‘DWTS’ Dedication Night Partner Revealed After Val Chmerkovskiy Suspension
Jenna Dewan’s fiancé is stepping in to show his support.
As the Rookie actress prepares to perform on the Oct. 20 episode of Dancing With the Stars without her pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy following his suspension from the show, her fiancé Steve Kazee shared a sweet message for Dewan.
“Everytime I think I can’t love you more, your grace, your class, and your heart prove me wrong,” the Tony winner wrote on his Instagram Stories Oct. 18 over a photo of Dewan in her red and black DWTS costume from last week’s paso doble performance. “You got this baby! We got you.”
Due to Chmerkovskiy’s one-week suspension from the ABC show, Dewan will dance with pro Alan Bersten for the upcoming Dedication Night episode, in which she’ll honor her mother, E! News has learned.
For the special performance, the Step Up actress—who shares son Callum, 6, and daughter Rhiannon, 2, with Kazee—will perform a Viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers, according to People.
On Oct. 17, BBC Studios—the production company behind Dancing With the Stars—announced Chmerkovskiy was suspended for one episode after he appeared to reference Will Smith's 2022 Oscars slap in response to judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s critique of his wife Jenna Johnson's samba routine.
“The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable,” BBC Studios shared in a statement obtained by E! News Oct. 17. “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.”
The professional dancer’s controversial remarks in question came after Inaba criticized Johnson and her partner Harry Shum Jr. for featuring a “lift” in their samba performance during the Oct. 13 episode, which is not permitted in the ballroom style.
After a shocked Johnson questioned Inaba’s critique, Inaba grabbed a piece of paper from the judges' table to read the definition of a lift.
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Baby2Baby
In the wake of the tense moment, Chmerkovskiy changed his TikTok status the next day to read: “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” per screenshots shared on social media.”
The 40-year-old deleted his post and later apologized for using the reference, before he received a suspension from DWTS—the first in the show’s history.
Addressing the news, Chmerkovskiy once again expressed his regret over his comments, while also sending his support to Dewan.
“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,” he wrote on his Instagram Stories Oct. 17, “without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention.”
“Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna, and the whole DWTS family lots of love during Dedication Night,” Chmerkovskiy added. “I'll be watching and cheering everyone on!!”
For a closer look at the pairs competing for the Mirrorball Trophy on season 35 of the dance competition series, keep reading…
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa
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Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
Cha-cha-chopping away... The celebrity chef will be turning up the heat this season.
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Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.
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Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart
The former '90s teen heartthrob will hope to MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35.
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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.
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Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov
The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.
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Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.
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Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills
After sister Brooks Nader competed on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is trying her hand.
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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 is following in the footsteps of wife Whitney Leavitt—who competed on season 34.
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Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.
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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.
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Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star is ready to learn some new moves.
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Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
The Summer House star is prepping for her turn in the ballrom.
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Disney/Andrew Eccles
Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas
The Love Island UK 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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