Jenna Dewan breaks silence on 'DWTS' partner Val Chmerkovskiy's suspension
Jenna Dewan addressed the one-week suspension of her 'Dancing With the Stars' partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, following his controversial comments about Will Smith. Pro dancer Alan Bersten stepped in as a replacement, and the pair successfully performed a waltz that earned high marks from judges.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of reality television production, celebrity conduct, and the impact of public controversies on professional partnerships.
Jenna Dewan emphasized that “the show must go on” following her “Dancing With the Stars” partner Val Chmerkovskiy’s absence from Tuesday’s “Dedication Night” episode amid his one-week suspension .
Speaking to “Good Morning America” Tuesday night, Dewan revealed she and pro Alan Bersten, who filled in for Chmerkovskiy , had just two and a half days to rehearse.
“I learned this early on — in life, but also especially in our business — that the show must go on,” Dewan, 45, told the outlet. “Sometimes, unexpected things happen and you have to pivot. And then your job is to make the best of that, and your mental game is what you’re in control of.”
She joked that Bersten, 32, “stepped up,” in a nod to her 2006 film of the same name, before the pro quipped, “I had to step up.”
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