DWTS' Val Chmerkovskiy Apologizes to Jenna Dewan on Show

Jenna Dewan, Alan Bersten Share Rehearsal Update After Val Chmerkovskiy’s DWTS SuspensionVal Chmerkovskiy owned up to his misstep. After the Dancing With the Stars pro was dealt a one-week suspension from the ABC competition for his comments about judge Carrie Ann Inaba, he returned to the ballroom on the Oct. 27 episode and apologized to partner Jenna Dewan. "We are back together," Chmerkovskiy told her in rehearsal footage shown on the broadcast. "I am so sorry for all the chaos. You did not sign up for that, and I feel awful." The Rookie star then hugged him, saying, "I forgive you. I missed you." Still, Dewan—who shares daughter Everly, 13, with ex-husband Channing Tatum, and kids Callum, 6, and Rhiannon, 2, with fiancé Steve Kazee—didn’t miss a step as she partnered with Alan Bersten for Dedication Night Oct. 20 with a Viennese Waltz to The Righteous Brothers' “Unchained Melody,” which she dedicated to her mom Nancy Lee Bursch. “I’ve been thinking so much on all the things my mom has taught me throughout my life,” the 45-year-old shared in an Oct. 18 Instagram post alongside photos of her mom through the years. “Not just in what she’s said, but in the way she’s lived and the example she’s always been for me.”“To lead with kindness. To give people grace,” she continued. “To be strong without losing your softness. To keep your heart open, even when life doesn’t go quite the way you imagined.” Indeed she carried on even after Chmerkovskiy was suspended from DWTS for one week after he alluded to the infamous Oscars moment between Will Smith and Chris Rock on his TikTok status following the awkward interaction between his wife Jenna Johnson and Inaba on the Oct. 13 episode. Disney/Andrew EcclesAnd while many interpreted the moment as a reference to Smith slapping Rock, Chmerkovskiy explained that was a misstep and he was instead referring to Smith’s comment of, “Keep my wife’s name out your f--king mouth.” “As you may have seen in the news, I won't be in the ballroom this week,” he wrote on his Instagram Stories Oct. 17. “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, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention.”Eric McCandless/Disney“Carrie Ann certainly didn't deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was,” the 40-year-old 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.” The three-time Mirrorball champ noted he didn’t want to throw off anyone’s routine, asking that everyone send love to Inaba, Dewan and “the whole DWTS family" during Dedication Night. For a look at all the stars hoping to put their best foot forward on this season of Dancing With the Stars, 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