Jenna Dewan Breaks Silence on ‘DWTS’ Drama & Thanks Alan Bersten for ‘Stepping In’

For the first time since Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended from the October 20 episode of Dancing With the Stars, his Season 35 partner, Jenna Dewan, has acknowledged the situation. Just hours before the live show, Dewan took to Instagram to post about Dedication Night, and she gave Alan Bersten, who’s replacing Chmerkovskiy during his suspension, a shout-out.

“This is a truly timeless moment for my family,” the actress wrote, along with photos from her rehearsals. “So grateful I get to create this memory with my mom that we will share forever! And thank you also to Alan for stepping in and being amazing.”

Dewan kept off of social media during the first days of Chmerkovskiy’s controversy, but returned on October 18 to post a tribute to her mom, Nancy Bursch, whom she’s honoring with her Dedication Night dance. She still has not spoken specifically about Chmerkovskiy’s suspension.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jenna Dewan (@jennadewan)

The three-time Mirrorball trophy champion was pulled from competing on October 20 after he posted on his TikTok Story on October 14, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” The post, which was an apparent reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, was directed at Carrie Ann Inaba, who critiqued Chmerkovskiy’s wife Jenna Johnson‘s choreography during the October 13 episode.

After Inaba called out the inappropriate message, Chmerkovskiy issued a public apology, but BBC Studios announced his suspension on October 17. “The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable,” the production company said. “Val’s social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show.”

Chmerkovskiy followed up the news with another apology, in which he explained that he was referencing Smith saying, “Keep my wife’s name out your mouth,” at the Oscars, noting that he didn’t “stop to think through what else that reference could imply.”

Related

‘Dancing With the Stars’: Harry Shum Jr. Posts Message to Fans

He added, “Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was. The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is putting in. Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna, and the whole DWTS family lots of love during Dedication Night. I’ll be watching and cheering everyone on!!”

As of now, Chmerkovskiy is expected to return for the October 27 episode, if Dewan remains in the competition.

Dancing With the Stars, Season 35, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+