Dancing With The Stars Suspends Val Chmerkovskiy

Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) has handed professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy a one-week suspension after he made a joke about slapping judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

The show's producers described the comment as 'inappropriate' and said it would not be tolerated.

As a result of the suspension, Chmerkovskiy will not appear in the next episode of the long-running competition series.

His celebrity partner, actress Jenna Dewan, will instead perform alongside fellow professional dancer Alan for the episode.

In an official statement, the show emphasised that the well-being of its staff is 'non-negotiable,' signalling that it takes complaints of this nature seriously.

The phrase suggests that DWTS is unwilling to compromise on protecting employees from behaviour it considers disrespectful or harmful.

Carrie Ann Inaba has served as a judge on the programme for many seasons and is a well-known figure among the show's audience.

The suspension marks a rare disciplinary action against one of the show's professional dancers, who are typically central to its appeal alongside the celebrity contestants.

Details about the exact nature of Chmerkovskiy's remark have not been fully disclosed, though the summary indicates it referenced slapping the judge.

It remains unclear whether the suspension will affect Chmerkovskiy's standing in the competition long-term or whether he will resume his role after the one-week period ends.

The incident has drawn attention on social media, with fans discussing both the joke and the show's response.

Dancing With the Stars has not released further comment beyond the statement regarding staff well-being, and no additional consequences have been announced at this time.