Val Chmerkovskiy Defends Jenna Johnson After ‘DWTS’ Judge Critique
Dancing With the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy came to the defense of his wife and fellow pro Jenna Johnson after judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized her choreography. In a TikTok Story, Chmerkovskiy alluded to Will Smith's 2022 Oscars slap, writing that viewers nearly saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom. Johnson and partner Harry Shum Jr. received 33 out of 40 for their samba, and Chmerkovskiy also posted comments urging respect for her.
During Tuesday’s Super Bowl Night episode, Inaba told Johnson she should add more content and challenge Shum Jr., then noted a lift. Johnson questioned the call, and Inaba read a definition of a lift aloud. The pair’s samba to Usher’s “Yeah!” earned 33/40, with three judges awarding eights and guest Joe Buck giving a nine.
Chmerkovskiy was seen shaking his head in the skybox as the scores arrived. In comments, he urged respect for Johnson and suggested the female judge was speaking to her unfairly, without naming Inaba. His later TikTok Story referenced the Fresh Prince, which fans linked to Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap; it was deleted.
This exchange may intensify scrutiny of judging on Dancing With the Stars and could fuel fan debates about how critiques are delivered to female professionals. Viewers and contestants might feel more pressure to respond publicly, while spouses’ posts could amplify harassment toward judges or pros. It may also keep attention on the line between defending a partner and invoking violent imagery, affecting the show’s cast, judges, and audience discourse.