‘Dancing With the Stars’: Val Reflects on ‘Cathartic’ Hug With Carrie Ann After Drama

Carrie Ann Inaba and Valentin Chmerkovskiy shared a sweet moment in a behind-the-scenes video from the October 27 episode of Dancing With the Stars. In a video clip making the rounds on social media, Chmerkovskiy could be seen having a sincere conversation with Inaba behind the judges’ table.

While it’s unclear exactly what the two were saying, Inaba appeared to tell Chmerkovskiy, “It’s OK,” at one point. The duo held hands as they hashed out their recent controversy, which stemmed from a social media comment Chmerkovskiy made about Inaba that led to his one-week suspension from the show. They also shared a hug.

After the interaction, Inaba turned to the crowd behind her and Chmerkovskiy and said, “So everyone’s staring. We are coworkers and we are completely cordial. We are good, OK?”

Disney/Christopher Willard

Chmerkovskiy told People after the show that he felt “cathartic relief” after talking to Inaba. “I think it was just really important for me to make sure that she feels safe and knows that, firsthand from me, I want nothing but love for her,” he said.

After Inaba critiqued Jenna Johnson‘s choreography on the October 13 episode of DWTS, Chmerkovskiy took to social media to defend his wife. However, he took his clap back too far, writing in one TikTok Story, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” a reference to Will Smith and Chris Rock‘s controversy at the 2022 Oscars. Chmerkovskiy later clarified that he was referring to Smith’s “keep my wife’s name out your mouth” quote, and not the moment he slapped Rock, but the backlash had already flooded in. He was not allowed in the ballroom for the October 20 episode, and his partner, Jenna Dewan, danced with Alan Bersten instead.

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“I want nothing but joy for [Carrie Ann] and as much as the world might say otherwise, I want her to know how I feel, not how others want me to feel, but how I genuinely feel,” he added. “I will have nothing but love for Carrie Ann. I have nothing but respect for what she has to say.”

Chmerkovskiy returned to the dance floor on Horror Movie Night and Inaba complimented his and Dewan’s Argentine tango routine. “Incredible choreography, Val,” she specifically noted. Dewan and Chmerkovskiy made it through the double elimination and will hit the floor again for Disney Night next week.

Dancing With the Stars, Season 35, Episode 8, Monday, November 2, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+