Val Chmerkovskiy Issues Apology to Carrie Ann Inaba Over Slap Joke

WHO:

NY Post - Val Chmerkovskiy, Carrie Ann Inaba, Jenna Johnson

US Magazine - Val Chmerkovskiy, Carrie Ann Inaba, Jenna Johnson

WHAT:

NY Post - Val Chmerkovskiy issued an apology to Carrie Ann Inaba for a careless post referencing a slap.

US Magazine - Val Chmerkovskiy apologized for jokingly threatening to slap Carrie Ann Inaba following a tense exchange on Dancing With the Stars.

US Magazine - Chmerkovskiy defended his wife, Jenna Johnson, after Inaba criticized her choreography.

WHERE:

US Magazine - The incident occurred on the set of Dancing With the Stars.

WHEN:

US Magazine - Val Chmerkovskiy made his apology via Instagram Story on Thursday, October 15.

US Magazine - The criticism of Jenna Johnson's choreography by Carrie Ann Inaba occurred on Tuesday, October 13.

WHY:

US Magazine - Val Chmerkovskiy felt the need to apologize due to backlash from his joking threat and the tense situation involving his wife.

HOW:

NY Post - Chmerkovskiy expressed his apology through a social media post.

(UPDATED October 16, 2026 14:00 UTC)

Val Chmerkovskiy has issued an apology to Carrie Ann Inaba for a careless post where he jokingly threatened to slap her, following a tense exchange on Dancing With the Stars. He felt compelled to address the backlash stemming from his comments and also defended his wife, Jenna Johnson, after Inaba criticized her choreography. Chmerkovskiy shared his apology via an Instagram Story on Thursday, October 15.