Judge Carrie Ann Inaba Addresses Val Chmerkovskiy Suspension

'Dancing With The Stars' judge Carrie Ann Inaba has broken her silence regarding pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy's one-week suspension, citing professional courtesy for remaining competitors. Speaking on Instagram, the 58-year-old explained that she had not discussed the incident to protect those still in competition and emphasized existing standards separating judges from dancers. The controversy originated during an Oct. 13 Super Bowl Night episode when Inaba criticized Jenna Johnson's illegal lift; Chmerkovskiy subsequently posted a social media message implying he wanted to slap Inaba, sparking outrage before he apologized publicly for the poorly stated comment. Although Inaba noted she and Johnson reconciled after the show and offered further discussions on enforcement rules, she highlighted her hope that a new unified session will be held next season with all dancers and judges to establish clearer lift regulations.