During Tuesday night’s emotionally charged “Dedication Night” episode of “Dancing With the Stars,” the show confronted Val Chmerkovskiy’s suspension directly.
At the start of the episode, co-host Alfonso Ribeiro made a clear reference: “As you can see, Alan Bersten is with Jenna Dewan because Val is not with us this week.” This moment set the tone for what was to follow.
Later, as Dewan and Bersten prepared to perform, they danced around the topic of Chmerkovskiy’s absence. “First and foremost, I know it’s a really unusual situation, but I feel honored to step in and help you this week,” Bersten told Dewan, who simply expressed her gratitude.
Bersten emphasized the significance of “Dedication Night,” aiming to ensure that the focus remained on Dewan as she honored her mother, Nancy Lee Bursch. “I want to make sure this dance is so special—not just for you, but for your mom,” he said.
During their routine’s judging, judge Carrie Ann Inaba appeared to reference the behind-the-scenes situation by telling Dewan, “I know this journey has been a lot.” This comment hinted at the previous drama surrounding Chmerkovskiy.
Inaba complimented Dewan, stating, “You continue to come out here, giving us all your heart, all your soul,” and praised her performance as a breakthrough moment.
As Dewan and Bersten awaited their scores, co-host Julianne Hough mentioned the “emotional night” and the events that had unfolded. Ultimately, they earned a solid score of 37 out of 40 for their waltz to “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers, with Bursch joining them on the dance floor.
Chmerkovskiy had been suspended for a week following a controversial social media post where he referenced Will Smith’s well-known Oscars incident. He intended to defend his wife, fellow dancer Jenna Johnson, after she received criticism from Inaba for an “illegal” lift during a previous week’s episode.
This post became the center of a stir in the “DWTS” community, ultimately leading to his suspension. A statement from producer BBC Studios affirmed that the well-being of everyone involved in the show is “non-negotiable.” They condemned Chmerkovskiy’s post, declaring it inappropriate.
Chmerkovskiy later addressed the situation in a statement, acknowledging his error in judgment and stressing that his intention was not to cause distress for Inaba or anyone else involved. He shared his hope that his absence would not distract from the show or from Dewan’s hard work.
Instead of dancing with Chmerkovskiy this week, Dewan partnered with Alan Bersten. “Dancing With the Stars” continues to air new episodes on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available for streaming on Hulu the next day.
