Val Chmerkovskiy Returns to 'Dancing With the Stars' and Makes Peace With Carrie Ann Inaba

Val Chmerkovskiy and Carrie Ann Inaba appear to have settled their differences, bringing an end to a turbulent stretch on "Dancing With the Stars." The dispute began earlier this month, when Chmerkovskiy made a joke about Inaba that was labeled "inappropriate" and led to his being pulled from the competition.

Chmerkovskiy returned to the ballroom on Tuesday night's episode after sitting out for one week. The show suspended him over a post on his TikTok story that read, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night." He wrote it after Inaba critiqued his wife, Jenna Johnson, on the Oct. 13 episode. The post was read as a nod to Will Smith's infamous slap at the 2022 Oscars, and BBC Studios deemed it inappropriate.

His absence was not addressed on last week's broadcast. This week, though, viewers saw him apologize to his dance partner, Jenna Dewan, in the pre-dance package. "We are back together. I am so sorry for all the chaos. You did not sign up for that, and I feel awful," he said. Dewan replied: "I forgive you…I missed you."

After the show, cameras caught Chmerkovskiy and Inaba hugging, and the moment spread across social media. He described the conversation to People as a "cathartic relief" and said it was important that Inaba feels safe and hears directly from him that he wants "nothing but love" for her.

Chmerkovskiy added that he wishes her only joy and wants her to know how he truly feels, rather than how others want him to feel. "I will have nothing but love for Carrie Ann," he said. "I have nothing but respect for what she has to say."

Earlier on Tuesday, Inaba shared a long statement on Instagram. She said she had stayed quiet out of professional courtesy to those still competing, noting that standards and practices keep the parties separated. She felt the headlines had left out some important details.

According to Inaba, she and Johnson hugged it out after the Super Bowl show, and she praised Johnson as an absolute professional who worked through the moment with her. Inaba said she later learned that Johnson had been deeply hurt, so she offered to talk with her at any time. She also offered to discuss the lift rule and how she enforces it, and pointed to a video by Sharna Burgess explaining lifts, assists and which dances allow them.

Inaba closed by suggesting that a new lift rule be created for next season. She said that working with dancers, judges and the audience toward a better shared understanding is important to her, and that it is something she has requested.