Dancing With the Stars' Val Chmerkovskiy Apologizes to Partner Jenna Dewan on Show After Suspension

Return to the ballroom

Chmerkovskiy addressed his suspension and apologized to Dewan during the Oct. 27 episode. Dewan hugged him and said, “I forgive you. I missed you.” He had been removed from the ABC competition for one week after comments about Inaba. During his absence, Dewan danced with Alan Bersten on Oct. 20 for Dedication Night.

The reference behind suspension

Many took the reference as an allusion to Smith slapping Rock. Chmerkovskiy said he had meant to invoke Smith’s line, “Keep my wife’s name out your f--king mouth,” but acknowledged that he had misjudged the reference.

Chmerkovskiy explains his apology

In an Oct. 17 Instagram Stories post, Chmerkovskiy said he would not be in the ballroom that week. He wrote that he had acted on an instinct to defend his wife without considering what else the meme could imply.

He said Inaba did not deserve to be drawn into his poor judgment and that he did not want to distract from Dewan’s work or the week’s events. The three-time Mirrorball champion also asked people to send support to Inaba, Dewan and the DWTS family.

Dewan’s dedication to her mother

On Oct. 20, Dewan performed a Viennese Waltz with Bersten to “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers, dedicating it to her mother, Nancy Lee Bursch. In an Oct. 18 Instagram post, Dewan reflected on what her mother had taught her, including kindness, grace and strength. She shares daughter Everly, 13, with ex-husband Channing Tatum, and has Callum, 6, and Rhiannon, 2, with fiancé Steve Kazee.