Val Chmerkovskiy apologized to "Dancing with the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba after making a reference to the Will Smith Oscars slap incident during a performance on the show.
Chmerkovskiy posted on social media, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night," referencing Smith's role in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and the 2022 Academy Awards incident when Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock on stage.
Inaba responded publicly with her own post stating, "So this is what we are doing now?"
Following Inaba's reaction, Chmerkovskiy issued an apology. He acknowledged his reference was "careless" and committed to improvement, writing, "I will do better."
The exchange highlights ongoing sensitivities surrounding the Oscars incident, which remains a widely discussed moment in entertainment history. Smith's actions that night drew significant scrutiny and had lasting professional consequences for the actor. Inaba's pushback suggests the judge felt the reference was inappropriate for the "Dancing with the Stars" platform.
Chmerkovskiy has been a professional dancer on the show for multiple seasons and regularly performs and interacts with judges during broadcasts. His quick apology indicates he recognized the misstep and respected Inaba's concern about bringing the controversial moment into the dancing competition's context.