How a controversial lift on 'Dancing With the Stars' and a reference to Will Smith's Oscars slap led to pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy's suspension
Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended from 'Dancing With the Stars' after criticizing judge Carrie Ann Inaba on social media. The conflict originated from a dispute over an illegal lift performed by contestants Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of reality television production, social media conduct, and internal disciplinary policies within entertainment franchises.
Carrie Ann Inaba and Valentin Chmerkovskiy. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Eric McCandless/Disney, Frank Micelotta/Disney) It's been quite a week for Dancing With the Stars drama, both in and out of the ballroom, with a judge accusing a pair of contestants of utilizing an illegal move during their routine and a professional dancer criticizing the judge in a social media post that got him temporarily suspended from the show.
The controversy began during the Oct. 13 episode of the ABC reality dance competition, dubbed Super Bowl Night, when Harry Shum Jr. and his professional dance partner, Jenna Johnson, performed a samba to "Yeah!" by Usher ft. Lil Jon & Ludacris. At one point, some of the dance troupe members hoisted Shum into the air.
After the performance, judge Carrie Ann Inaba told Shum and Johnson that their routine included a "lift," which is not allowed in traditional samba.
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