Dancing With the Stars Benches Val Chmerkovskiy Over Carrie Ann Inaba Joke
The pro dancer is out after a social media post that crossed the line.
Val Chmerkovskiy is getting sat down. Dancing With the Stars pulled the veteran pro from the show following a joke he posted online about judge Carrie Ann Inaba—one that the show's producers deemed inappropriate and out of pocket.
BBC Studios came with the statement: the well-being of everyone on set is "non-negotiable," and Val's post didn't meet the standards expected from anyone connected to the show. Translation: that's not how we move here.
It's a reminder that even established names on a show can catch consequences when they miss the room. Whether it was meant as locker-room humor or just poor judgment, the show made clear there's a line—and Val stepped over it. We'll see what's next for him and the show moving forward.
Read the full story at Variety → https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/dancing-with-the-stars-pulls-val-chmerkovskiy-carrie-ann-inaba-slap-joke-1236915031/
Independent artist? Get your own feature.
Get Featured →
Carrot Top Ready to Get Back on Stage After Health Crisis
The Vegas fixture breaks his silence and confirms his return to the Luxor this month.
Law Roach Might Be Done Dressing Celebrities—Here's What's Next
The legendary stylist who made Zendaya and Kim look untouchable hints at a major career move.
‘Perfect Road’ Is a Doc That Follows a Nomadic Cyclist Pursuing Grueling Challenges – and Freedom
Adam and Christian Bonke's documentary and character study, screening at the London Film Festival, is a road trip full o
Join the conversation