Jenna Dewan will have a new DWTS partner for the next live show. Alan Bersten is stepping in after the show suspended Val Chmerkovskiy for one week. The switch comes after Val Chmerkovskiy faced backlash over a social media post referencing Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap. Now, Dewan is preparing to continue the competition with Bersten.
Alan Bersten will step in after Val Chmerkovskiy’s offensive social media post
According to People, Jenna Dewan will dance with Alan Bersten during Dancing with the Stars Dedication Night on Oct. 20. Meanwhile, Bersten returns to the ballroom after his Season 35 elimination with Giada De Laurentiis.
Dewan and her temporary DWTS partner will perform a Viennese waltz to The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody.” She plans to dedicate the routine to her mother, Nancy.
The change follows Val Chmerkovskiy’s one-week suspension. BBC Studios told Us Weekly that his post was “inappropriate.” The company also said it did not reflect the standards expected from anyone connected with the show.
The controversy started after judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized Jenna Johnson’s samba with Harry Shum Jr. during Super Bowl Night. Inaba called out what she viewed as an illegal lift. Afterward, Chmerkovskiy defended his wife online with a reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.
However, Chmerkovskiy later apologized to Inaba over the Oscars slap reference. He admitted that he made a “poor decision” while trying to defend Johnson. He also said he contacted Inaba privately to apologize.
His absence marks a notable moment for the franchise. In fact, People reported that the punishment represents the first suspension of a professional dancer in the show’s history.
Meanwhile, Jenna Dewan appears focused on moving forward with Alan Bersten. In rehearsal footage, she said she was “so excited” for Dedication Night as the pair prepared their new routine together.
For now, Val Chmerkovskiy will sit out only this week’s show. He has also encouraged viewers to support Dewan and the rest of the cast while Alan Bersten temporarily takes his place.
