Overview
- BBC Studios announced Saturday that Chmerkovskiy will not appear on the Oct. 20 Dedication Night episode after a disciplinary review of his social-media post.
- The now-deleted TikTok Story read, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” a line widely interpreted as invoking Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap and prompting public backlash.
- Chmerkovskiy issued a public apology and said he personally reached out to judge Carrie Ann Inaba to express regret for his comment and poor judgment.
- To keep Jenna Dewan competing, producers paired her with previously eliminated pro Alan Bersten for Dedication Night so her planned tribute performance can go ahead.
- Newsrooms noted this may be the first known suspension of a DWTS professional, a move that underscores tensions over on-air rule calls, cast members’ social-media responses, and how live shows manage reputational risk across platforms.