‘DWTS’ Pro Val Chmerkovskiy Apologizes to Carrie Ann Inaba for “Careless” Will Smith Oscars Slap Reference: “I Will Do Better”
Val Chmerkovskiy apologised publicly and directly to Carrie Ann Inaba after a since-deleted social media post was widely read as invoking Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap. He said the reference was careless, regretted making it and would think more carefully before posting, acknowledging that his words reach people beyond the Dancing With the Stars cast.
The three-time winner had been defending his wife, fellow professional Jenna Johnson, after Inaba criticised aspects of Johnson and Harry Shum Jr.’s samba on the show’s Super Bowl Night episode. Chmerkovskiy’s post said, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night”; many interpreted it as suggesting Smith might slap Inaba. The post remained online for at least six hours before it was deleted, and Inaba had publicly questioned the remark.
- Val Chmerkovskiy apologised to Carrie Ann Inaba over a deleted post.
- Many read his “Fresh Prince” reference as invoking the 2022 Oscars slap.
- The remark followed criticism of Jenna Johnson’s samba with Harry Shum Jr.
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Dancing With the Stars is a US television competition in which celebrities perform with professional dancers and a panel of judges scores them. Carrie Ann Inaba is one of the judges, while Val Chmerkovskiy and his wife, Jenna Johnson, are professional dancers on the show.
Will Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Academy Awards after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife. The incident drew widespread attention and has since been referenced in public discussions, sometimes raising questions about jokes that suggest violence.
Judges’ comments are part of the competition, while social media posts by cast members can reach a much wider audience. That context helps explain why a reference linking Inaba’s criticism of a dance to the Oscars incident attracted notice.