Sources Reveal How Producers Told Val Chmerkovskiy and Carrie Ann Inaba to Act During Their Live ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Reunion

Val Chmerkovskiy is heading back to the ballroom after a one-week suspension from Dancing With the Stars, and if you’re wondering what the vibes will be like between him and Carrie Ann Inaba, producers have given them both some notes.

A source told The Sun that “the plan” is to “basically act like nothing happened.” They added that “It’s going to be very awkward between Val and Carrie Ann but both have been told to just focus on the dancing, keep it professional, and not add more drama into the mix.”

Val was suspended for making an “Oscar Slap” comment to Carrie Ann after she critiqued his wife Jenna Johnson for incorporating a rule-breaking lift into her routine. Producer BBC Studios released a statement, telling Deadline, “The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable. Val’s social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show. As a result, he will not participate in next week’s show.”

Val was briefly replaced by Alan Bersten, who danced with his partner Jenna Dewan during “Dedication Night.” The temporary couple got high scores and came through with a beautiful routine. As for this week’s “Horror Movie Night,” Val and Jenna will reunite for an Argentine tango to “Uninvited.” The theme of their performance? “Zombie movies,” which fans have pointed out seems somewhat pointed given the “return from the dead” vibes.

Dancing With the Stars airs live tomorrow night (October 27) on ABC and Disney+, so stay tuned!