Jenna Dewan will have a new professional partner on Dancing with the Stars this week after Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended for one episode.
The Rookie star will dance with Alan Bersten in the upcoming episode, following the decision by DWTS producer BBC Studios to remove Chmerkovskiy from this week’s show.
The suspension followed a controversial social media comment aimed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba. Chmerkovskiy has since apologised and said he was attempting to defend his wife, fellow professional dancer Jenna Johnson.
The dispute began during “Super Bowl Night”, when Inaba criticised Johnson and her partner, Harry Shum Jr, over an alleged lift in their samba routine. Inaba then read Johnson the definition of a lift.
Chmerkovskiy responded in a since-deleted TikTok status update: “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.”
The remark appeared to refer to the 2022 Oscars, when Will Smith walked on stage and slapped host Chris Rock.
Following the suspension, Dewan is set to continue the competition with Bersten as her temporary professional partner for the upcoming episode.
