DWTS’ Jenna Dewan Reunites With Val Chmerkovskiy After His Suspension

Jenna Dewan, Alan Bersten Share Rehearsal Update After Val Chmerkovskiy’s DWTS SuspensionJenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy are finding a new groove. After the Dancing With the Stars professional was given a one-week suspension for a social media comment directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba, the duo have returned to rehearsals. “Hey everybody, here we are,” Dewan teased in an Oct. 25 Instagram Story. “We are here for Halloween Horror Night, we are doing an Argentine tango to the song “Uninvited” inspired by the movie 28 Weeks Later.” For his part, Chmerkovskiy appeared happy to be back, cheerfully wiping sweat from his forehead as Dewan teased what’s to come for their upcoming Oct. 27 performance. Chmerkovskiy’s return comes after he received a one-week suspension from DWTS after he alluded to Will Smith and Chris Rock’s infamous slap moment at the Oscars 2022 when addressing Inaba’s critique of his wife Jenna Johnson. In a since-deleted TikTok comment, Chmerkovskiy wrote in reference to Inaba’s critique of Johnson and her partner Harry Shum Jr.’s dance, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.”The 40-year-old—dad to one son with Johnson—later clarified he misspoke and did not intend for his comment to insinuate he wanted to slap Inaba. “In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme to ‘keep my wife's name’ out of the conversation,” Chmerkovskiy wrote in an Instagram Story Oct. 17, “without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention.” Chmerkovskiy emphasized his guilt over letting not only Dewan, but Inaba down during an important week for DWTS. “Carrie Ann certainly didn't deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was,” he continued. “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.”Disney/Andrew EcclesUltimately, Dewan hit the dance floor with pro Alan Bersten—who, along with his celebrity partner Giada De Laurentiis, was sent home earlier this season—to honor her mother Nancy Lee Bursch with a Viennese waltz routine to “Unchained Melody.” The pair earned 37 points out of a possible 40, and Chmerkovskiy expressed gratitude for Bersten’s ability to support Dewan at the last minute. “Thank you for stepping in and doing such an amazing job,” Chmerkovskiy wrote in a comment under Bersten’s Oct. 20 Instagram post. “Jenna looks so good and most importantly happy.” For a deeper look into the Dancing With the Stars season 35 competitors, keep reading… Disney/Andrew EcclesJulia Stiles & Ezra SosaYou won't hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.Disney/Andrew EcclesGiada De Laurentiis & Alan BerstenThe celebrity chef couldn't cha-cha-chop away the competition and was eliminated during the Sept. 22 episode.Disney/Andrew EcclesHarry Shum Jr. & Jenna JohnsonWhat did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.Disney/Andrew EcclesTaylor Hanson & Britt StewartSadly, the former '90s teen heartthrob did not MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35. He and his pro partner were axed from the competition on Sept. 29.Disney/Andrew EcclesTatyana Ali & Jan RavnikThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.Disney/Andrew EcclesJenna Dewan & Val ChmerkovskiyTwenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.Disney/Andrew EcclesAmber Glenn & Pasha PashkovThe 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.Disney/Andrew EcclesEzra Frech & Daniella KaragachThe Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.Disney/Andrew EcclesSarah Jane Nader & Hailey BillsThough her sister Brooks Nader was the fifth star to be eliminated on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star said goodbye to the competition after her debut episode on Sept. 16.Disney/Andrew EcclesConnor Wood & Rylee ArnoldThe comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.Disney/Andrew EcclesConner Leavitt & Adele ZaikmanThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star followed his wife Whitney Leavitt's footsteps after her season 34 appearance, but he bid farwell to the season 35 competition during the Sept. 15 premiere.Disney/Andrew EcclesTyler Cameron & Sharna BurgessThe Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.Disney/Andrew EcclesJackson Olson & Emma SlaterThe Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.Disney/Andrew EcclesGuillermo Rodriguez & Witney CarsonThe Jimmy Kimmel Live! star was ready to learn some new moves, but his time on DWTS was cut short on Oct. 13.Disney/Andrew EcclesCiara Miller & Brandon ArmstrongEven though Summer House star had fans screaming "bravo," she was eliminated from the competition on Oct. 6.Disney/Andrew EcclesMaura Higgins & Mark BallasThe Love Island U.K. alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience. "I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App