Derek Hough appeared to deliver a pointed message to suspended Dancing with the Stars professional Val Chmerkovskiy during Tuesday’s emotional Dedication Night, emphasizing the love, joy and togetherness at the heart of the competition as tensions continued behind the scenes.
Val was absent from the live show after being suspended for one week over a controversial social media post directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The incident followed a disagreement over criticism of his wife, fellow professional dancer Jenna Johnson, and her choreography.
Although the show did not publicly explain the reason for Val’s absence, Derek’s remarks about the spirit of the competition came as the controversy continued to attract attention.
Derek Hough Highlights the Meaning of DWTS
Derek shared his thoughts while judging Jenna Johnson and her celebrity partner, Grey’s Anatomy star Harry Shum Jr., following their Foxtrot to John Mayer’s “Stop This Train.” Harry dedicated the performance to his wife, Shelby Rabara.
The routine became an especially touching family moment when Harry’s young daughter and his parents joined the couple on the dance floor.
“This is what Dancing with the Stars is all about. I just want to let everyone know that, okay?” Derek said.
The former professional dancer went on to praise the emotion behind the performance, highlighting the privilege of sharing a passion with someone you love.
“It’s love, it’s joy, it’s sharing. And I just have to say, to be able to do what you love with the person that you love, and I saw this moment right here, my friend…and it just took my breath away,” he said.
His comments underscored a message of connection and positivity during an episode overshadowed by the ongoing dispute involving Val and Carrie Ann.
Carrie Ann also praised the routine, specifically commending Jenna’s choreography after criticizing her work the previous week.
“Jenna, great choreography. Way to integrate the great qualities of the Foxtrot and allowing the story to be told so beautifully as a group. Wonderful,” the judge said.
How the Dispute Between Val and Carrie Ann Began
The tensions reportedly intensified during Super Bowl Night, when Carrie Ann criticized Jenna’s choreography while evaluating her performance with Harry.
According to a source who spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun, Jenna was left “in tears” backstage after Carrie Ann said the routine needed “more content” and criticized the inclusion of an illegal lift.
Val subsequently took to TikTok to defend his wife. However, his attempt to support Jenna triggered a fresh controversy when he posted a reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.
The since-deleted post provoked an online backlash and reportedly angered the show’s producers, who required Val to apologize to Carrie Ann.
Val later published a lengthy apology on social media. However, an insider told The U.S. Sun that Carrie Ann did not initially accept it.
The same source said Val also called the judge, but their conversation failed to resolve the tension between them.
According to the insider, Carrie Ann pushed for Val to sit out the following week, and producers ultimately agreed that a suspension was appropriate.
Val’s Partner Performs With a Different Professional
Val’s one-week suspension meant that his celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, had to take to the ballroom with previously eliminated professional dancer Alan Bersten.
The temporary pairing performed a Viennese Waltz that earned strong praise from the judges. Carrie Ann awarded them their first 10 of the season.
Val’s absence was referenced several times throughout Tuesday’s broadcast, but the program did not explain why he was missing.
That apparent silence was consistent with claims made by a source to The U.S. Sun, which reported that cast members had been instructed not to discuss the controversy or make jokes about the scandal directly.
The publication also reported that Val was expected to return to the ballroom the following week for the show’s Halloween-themed episode.
For now, the controversy has left the long-running competition dealing with a difficult mix of personal tensions and public scrutiny. Derek’s emphasis on love, joy and the experience of dancing with loved ones offered a reminder of the values the show seeks to celebrate, even as the fallout from Val’s suspension continued.