Maks Chmerkovskiy is standing by his brother Val Chmerkovskiy after the Dancing With the Stars pro received a one-episode suspension over a controversial social media post.
Maks made his support clear but acknowledged that the brothers do not always agree on how they handle situations. Still, he said their differences would not change their relationship.
Maks Chmerkovskiy supports brother Val despite differences over DWTS suspension
Maks addressed the Val Chmerkovskiy suspension while attending the Dancers Against Cancer Gala of the Stars in Los Angeles on October 22.
“I love him and he’s my brother,” Maks said. He noted that Val had supported him through his own past controversies and suggested he would now offer the same loyalty.
However, the former DWTS pro stopped short of defending every decision his brother made.
“We have difference of opinions and difference of actions but it’s not going to change the way I feel about him,” Maks said.
He also made clear that Val would handle the controversy himself. Maks said the brothers had spoken about the situation, but he did not believe he needed to tell Val anything he did not already understand.
“I’m there for him,” Maks added. “I’m with him.”
Val received the one-episode suspension after posting a since-deleted message about DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba. His comment followed Inaba’s criticism of Val’s wife and fellow pro Jenna Johnson during the October 13 episode.
In his post, Val appeared to reference Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” he wrote.
According to E! News, Val has since returned to rehearsals with celebrity partner Jenna Dewan following the suspension.
Despite the controversy, Maks said he remained happy to watch his brother continue his Dancing With the Stars journey. He also expressed confidence that Val would work through the situation.
“He’s going to figure this out,” Maks said.
For Maks, supporting his brother does not mean agreeing with every decision he makes. His comments instead showed that their disagreements have not changed the family bond between them.
