Val Chmerkovskiy Supports Alan Bersten Stepping In on DWTS
Sources told E! News that Val Chmerkovskiy trusts Alan Bersten to dance with Jenna Dewan while Chmerkovskiy serves a one-week Dancing With the Stars suspension. The suspension followed a social media comment aimed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba, and Chmerkovskiy is expected to return for the October 27 episode. He has apologized, and BBC Studios said his post did not meet the show's standards.
Val Chmerkovskiy is sitting out one DWTS episode after BBC Studios disciplined him for a TikTok post directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The judge had criticized his wife, Jenna Johnson, over a lift in an Oct. 13 samba. Chmerkovskiy apologized both publicly and privately.
Alan Bersten, who had already left season 35 with Giada De Laurentiis on Sept. 22, will fill in with Jenna Dewan. The pair announced a Viennese Waltz to the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" for Oct. 20. Sources say Chmerkovskiy plans to return Oct. 27 for Horror Movie Night.
The suspension may spotlight how reality TV participants' online remarks can affect workplace dynamics and viewer trust. Fans of DWTS could see a temporary pairing shift, while Jenna Dewan and Alan Bersten may face added pressure to perform. The incident could also prompt more caution among cast members about referencing sensitive cultural moments online, though the show's return timeline suggests limited long-term disruption.