Val Chmerkovski sat out for the ABC Latin and Ballroom dance show’s Dedication Night episode over an offensive social media post.
Maks Chmerkovskiy is standing by his brother Val despite his temporary suspension from Dancing with the Stars over an offensive social media post.
Last week, the 40-year-old pro sat out for the ABC Latin and Ballroom dance show’s Dedication Night episode, after referencing 58-year-old actor Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscars slap, when he struck 61-year-old comedian Chris Rock for making a joke about his 55-year-old wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, as a result of alopecia.
And now Maks, 46, a former professional on Dancing with the Stars, insists their close bond has not been affected.
He told E! News: “I love him and he’s my brother. He’s been on the other side of my antics, I guess, in the past, and we’re going to keep it moving.”
The choreographer insists Val is capable of taking on the backlash himself.
Maks said: “He’s going to handle it and he’s a big boy. He’s my brother no matter what. We have difference of opinions and difference of actions but it’s not going to change the way I feel about him.”
But if his sibling needs support, the TV personality is “there for him”.
He continued: “I’m with him. And we have spoken, but there’s not something that I sort of let him know that he doesn’t already.
“I’m going to let him handle it.”
Despite the controversy, Maks, who made his Dancing with the Stars debut in 2006 and left 10 years later, is proud that Val, who joined in 2011, is following in his footsteps.
He said: “It’s amazing that I got to do it and now I get to watch someone do it too. I don’t mean get in trouble. I mean live the Dancing With the Stars life. I’m happy for him.
“It’s been amazing, and he’s going to figure this out.”
This week, Val returned to training with his 45-year-old celebrity dance partner, actress Jenna Dewan, after being suspended for one episode following the offensive social media post in response to 58-year-old judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s critique of his 32-year-old wife, professional dancer Jenna Johnson‘s performance on the October 13 show.
In a now-deleted post, Val said: “You almost saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.”
He later wrote on Instagram: “Hi everyone. As you may have seen in the news, I won’t be in the ballroom this week.
“In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme to ‘keep my wife’s name’ out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention.
“Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgement, and I hated that she was.
“The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is putting in.
“Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna, and the whole DTWS family lots of love during Dedication Night. I’ll be watching and cheering everyone on!! (sic)”
Maks Chmerkovskiy reveals stance on brother Val after latter’s Dancing with the Stars suspension
