Val Chmerkovskiy is returning to the Dancing With the Stars ballroom after serving a one-week suspension, but his comeback is already drawing mixed responses from fans. The professional dancer will reunite with celebrity partner Jenna Dewan for the show’s upcoming Horror Night on October 27, following a week of controversy surrounding his social media comment about judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
The official Dancing With the Stars Instagram account shared a promotional photo of Val and Jenna preparing for their next performance. In the image, Jenna wears a cape and appears to scream in fear as Val stands over her, setting the mood for the show’s spooky theme night.
The pair will perform an Argentine tango to Damned Anthem and Kendra Dantes’ song Uninvited, inspired by the horror film 28 Days Later. Their performance will mark Val’s first appearance in the ballroom since his suspension.
However, not everyone is happy to see him return. Some fans questioned why Val was allowed back after missing only one episode, especially after Jenna Dewan and replacement partner Alan Bersten earned their first perfect 10 of the season during Dedication Night.
“Alan and Jenna should have been paired for the remainder of the show,” one fan commented on Instagram.
Another viewer questioned the purpose of the suspension, writing, “Kind of confused as to why he was just gone one week?” The fan added that missing a week with no elimination felt more like a vacation than a meaningful consequence.
Other viewers argued that Val’s actions had affected both his own competition and his wife Jenna Johnson’s team, with some suggesting that Alan should remain Jenna Dewan’s partner because their performance together had been so successful.
Still, Val has supporters who believe he has already taken responsibility for his mistake and deserves a chance to move forward.
“Anyone who says Val shouldn’t be there…. Have you ever made an error at your place of work and would prefer to have clarity over the matter before being let go?” one fan wrote. The commenter acknowledged that Val had apologized and praised Alan for doing a great job as a replacement.
Another viewer expressed surprise at the changing opinions surrounding the dancer, asking, “Wait what are these comments everyone was mad he was suspended now y’all hate him??”
A third fan welcomed his return, writing, “Y’all are so dramatic in these comments. Happy he’s back and crushes this week with Jenna.”
Val’s suspension followed a controversy that began during the October 13 episode of Dancing With the Stars. Carrie Ann criticized a samba performed by Val’s wife, professional dancer Jenna Johnson, and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr. The judge questioned a lift in the routine, prompting Val to respond on TikTok.
“You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” he wrote, referencing the infamous 2022 Oscars incident in which Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock onstage after a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The comment sparked backlash because of its apparent reference to physical aggression in response to a judge’s professional critique. Val deleted the post and later issued a public apology, explaining that he had acted out of an instinct to defend his wife without fully considering how the reference could be interpreted.
He acknowledged that Carrie Ann did not deserve to be caught in the middle of his poor judgment and said he did not want to distract from the competition or Jenna Dewan’s work. Despite the apology, the production team imposed a one-week suspension.
During his absence, Alan Bersten stepped in to partner Jenna Dewan for Dedication Night. The pair performed a Viennese waltz dedicated to Jenna’s mother and earned 37 out of 40 points, including a 10 from Carrie Ann. Their success added another layer to the debate over whether Val should return to the partnership.
Val’s brother, former Dancing With the Stars professional Maksim Chmerkovskiy, has also weighed in on the controversy. Speaking to E! News on October 22, Maksim indicated that he wanted the situation to move forward.
“I love him, and he’s my brother, and he’s been on the other side of my antics, I guess, in the past, and I think we’re gonna keep it moving,” Maksim said. “He’s gonna handle it.”
With Val back in rehearsals with Jenna Dewan, all eyes will be on their Horror Night performance and how the returning pro is received when he steps onto the ballroom floor again.
