Jenna Dewan Set to Dance with “DWTS ”Pro Alan Bersten amid Partner Val Chmerkovskiy’s Suspension

Charlotte PhillippSat, October 17, 2026 at 11:16 PM UTC

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Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Dewan; Alan BerstenCredit: Disney/Andrew Eccles -

Jenna Dewan is set to compete with another DWTS pro on Oct. 20 amid partner Val Chmerkovskiy’s one-week suspension

Dewan will perform a Viennese waltz with pro dancer Alan Bersten for her mother during Dedication Night

Chmerkovskiy was suspended after he shared an offensive social media post, referencing Will Smith’s Oscars slap, in response to critiques judge Carrie Ann Inaba made about his wife, fellow pro dancer Jenna Johnson

Amid Val Chmerkovskiy’sone-week suspension from Dancing with the Stars, his dance partner Jenna Dewan is set to compete with another pro on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

On Saturday, Oct. 17, it was confirmed that Dewan, 45, will perform with DWTS pro Alan Bersten during Tuesday’s Dedication Night episode, according to Us. The Rookie star and her step-in pro partner are set to perform a Viennese waltz set to The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody,” in honor of her mom, Nancy.

Bersten, 32, and his partner Giada de Laurentiis were eliminated earlier in season 35. His performance with Dewan this week comes amid the first-ever pro suspension in DWTS history.

Jenna Dewan; Alan Bersten.Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty;Frank Micelotta/Disney via Getty

Chmerkovskiy’s suspension stems from a social media post shared earlier this week that was deemed offensive by the DWTS production.

The post, which has since been deleted, referenced Will Smith’s Oscars slap, and it was posted in response to DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s critique of Chmerkovskiy’s wife Jenna Johnson’s latest performance with Harry Shum Jr., her partner this season.

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 35Credit: Disney/Eric McCandless

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In his now-deleted post, Chmerkovskiy wrote, “You almost saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.”

The statement was a reference to Smith, 58, slapping Rock during the 94th Academy Awards in March 2022, after Rock, 61, made a comment about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

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Chmerkovskiy confirmed in an Oct. 17 Instagram Stories post that he would be sitting out of the Dedication Night episode.

Val Chmerkovskiy’s Instagram Stories post on Oct. 17, 2026Credit: Val Chmerkovskiy/Instagram

“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,” wrote Chmerkovskiy. “Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgement, and I had 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,” the pro continued. “Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna, and the whole DTWS family lots of love during Dedication Night. I’ll be watching and cheering everyone on!! ❤️.”

Chmerkovskiy also apologized to Inaba, 58, on Oct. 15, writing that he had “reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly,” and he also shared a public apology, explaining that he understood “words affect so many outside of our internal DWTS family.”

“I recognize that l am in a fortunate position to have a platform and to be a role model to some, and I need to treat that with more care by actively pausing to think before I post to ensure what I am sharing aligns with who l am, and who I want to be for you all,” Chmerkovskiy added.

“I am truly sorry to Carrie Ann, and everyone who I hurt with my careless post. I will do better moving forward,” he continued.

Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST/PST on ABC and Disney+.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”