Description: The October 20, 2026 absence explained: the samba lift, Will Smith reference, one-show suspension, substitute dancer and Alfonso Ribeiro's unlikely connection.
Answer: Val Chmerkovskiy missed one episode after his social-media “Fresh Prince” remark was understood as referencing Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. BBC Studios suspended him for the October 20 show, when Alan Bersten danced with Val's celebrity partner Jenna Dewan.
It began with a samba rule
On October 13, Harry Shum Jr. and professional dancer Jenna Johnson performed a samba on ABC's season 35. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba questioned a lift assisted by background dancers. Johnson said she thought the restriction applied only to the main couple lifting one another. All three judges still awarded eights. Crucially, Johnson is Val's wife and Harry's partner; Jenna Dewan is Val's separate celebrity partner. They are two different people.
Why “Fresh Prince” was loaded
In a subsequently deleted TikTok post, Val wrote, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air starred Will Smith. At the 2022 Academy Awards, Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock after a joke about his wife. Used while defending his own wife from a female judge's criticism, the phrase could be read as a threatening comparison. Val apologized, saying he had meant Smith's verbal insistence that his wife's name be left alone, not the slap. His explanation of intent and the producer's disciplinary decision are distinct facts.
The on-air replacement and an odd connection
BBC Studios announced a one-show suspension on October 17. At 8 p.m. Eastern on October 20, host Alfonso Ribeiro briefly said Val was not with them that week, without explaining the controversy. Alan Bersten and Jenna Dewan performed a Viennese waltz dedicated to her mother and scored 37/40. Reports on October 21 said the suspension had ended and Val was preparing to return on October 27.
The extra twist: Ribeiro played Carlton Banks, Will Smith's cousin, on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The host who announced the absence had acted in the sitcom behind the remark. This is a documented casting coincidence, not proof of a planned on-air joke.
Conclusion
A disputed lift led to a social-media response whose pop-culture reference carried the memory of a real assault. The absence lasted one show, while the competition continued with a substitute. The host's own sitcom history adds an unexpected layer.
References (5)
- NBC News / TODAY, 2026-10-17: official production statement and deleted post
- The Washington Post, 2026-10-21: dance rules and broadcast
- People, 2026-10-21: Ribeiro's on-air explanation
- Entertainment Weekly, 2026-10-21: return announcement
- Entertainment Weekly, 2024: Ribeiro and Smith in Fresh Prince
Source method (checked 2026-10-22 JST): The deleted original TikTok and the complete broadcast were not independently watched. Scene descriptions are based on the cited reporting. No unsupported claims about backstage intentions or worldwide virality are made.
