What To Know
- Alan Bersten replaced Val Chmerkovskiy on Dancing With the Stars amid the latter’s suspension.
- He confirmed that he was in “communication” with Chmerkovskiy about choreography for Jenna Dewan’s dance.
- Dewan praised Bersten for how he handled the situation.
Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended from attending the October 20 episode of Dancing With the Stars, but he was still weighing in on his celeb partner Jenna Dewan‘s choreography in the days that led up to the live show.
Dewan danced with Alan Bersten instead of Chmerkovskiy for Dedication Night, and Bersten confirmed to Good Morning America that he and Chmerkovskiy were “in communication” about the dance. “He was like, ‘Change whatever you want. Do whatever you want. Just enjoy,’” Bersten shared, while also noting there was “a lot of back and forth” between him and Chmerkovskiy during rehearsals.
BBC Studios confirmed Chmerkovskiy’s suspension on October 17, three days into the rehearsals for the week, so Bersten likely stepped in when the dance had already mostly been put together.
Disney/Christopher Willard
Meanwhile, Dewan took the setback in stride and told GMA she had a “the show must go on” attitude about the situation. “Sometimes, unexpected things happen and you have to pivot,” she pointed out. “And then your job is to make the best of that, and your mental game is what you’re in control of.”
She also praised Bersten for how he “rose to the occasion” when he was needed. “Your heart was present the entire time,” The Rookie star gushed. “Listen, we made it happen, and we enjoyed ourselves. It was beautiful.” The judges approved of Dewan and Bersten’s Viennese waltz, scoring it a 37/40 (her highest scores yet).
Chmerkovskiy’s suspension lasted just one week and he will be back in the ballroom with Dewan for Horror Movie Night on October 27. The two have begun rehearsing for what’s to come.
The decision to suspend Chmerkovskiy came after he complained on social media about Carrie Ann Inaba‘s critiques of his wife Jenna Johnson‘s choreography. He took things too far when he wrote on his TikTok Story, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” This was an apparent reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, although Chmerkovskiy has insisted that he was only referring to Smith’s “keep my wife’s name out your mouth” quote and not the slap.
Still the damage had been done. “The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable,” BBC Studios said in a statement. “Val’s social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show.”
Chmerkovskiy publicly apologized for his actions and watched the October 20 show from home, while also using Instagram to urge fans to vote for Dewan and Bersten.
Dancing With the Stars, Season 35, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+