Savchenko Backs Chmerkovskiy Amid Suspension
Dancing with the Stars alum Gleb Savchenko has publicly declared his support for fellow professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy following Chmerkovskiy's week-long suspension from Season 35 of the show.
Savchenko stated on Oct. 18 that he identified as "Team Val" regarding the controversy, which stemmed from Chmerkovskiy’s comments directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
"She was just doing her job, creating a good TV moment," Savchenko said in the Oct. 18 statement. "But, yeah, I’d say Team Val on this one."
Suspension Details and Social Media Incident
The suspension resulted from Chmerkovskiy’s controversial comments to Inaba during a broadcast segment. The incident occurred after Chmerkovskiy received a low score for his wife, professional dancer Jenna Johnson.
Following the scoring, Chmerkovskiy changed his TikTok status to reference Will Smith’s Oscars slap, according to reports.
BBC Studios addressed the social media post, stating that it was inappropriate and did not reflect the show's values. The studio confirmed that Chmerkovskiy would not participate in the next week’s show as a result of the suspension.
Dispute Over Dance Move Classification
The controversy involved a dispute over the classification of a dance move performed by Johnson and her partner, Shum. Inaba had characterized the move as a lift.
Chmerkovskiy disputed this characterization on air. "It wasn’t a lift. It was a trick that has been done by true dancers helping Harry," he explained. He added, "We’ve seen it many, many times. Jenna didn’t lift him, he didn’t lift Jenna."
Chmerkovskiy further argued that the move was not performed within the couple's routine. "It wasn’t done in the couple, so I think it’s bulls--t," he said.
He suggested that Inaba felt compelled to intervene because she serves as the "lift police." He noted that the Latin dance number Johnson and Shum performed on Super Bowl Night was not an "OG samba" but rather "like a hip-hop samba."
Savchenko’s Defense of the Choreography
Expanding on his support for Chmerkovskiy, Savchenko offered specific commentary regarding the disputed dance move. He stated that if he were in the position of a judge, he would never call out the lift performed by Johnson and Shum.
Savchenko emphasized the stylistic nature of the performance, noting that it was "like a hip-hop samba" rather than an "OG samba." This distinction highlights the creative liberties taken during the routine, which Chmerkovskiy had previously defended as a trick rather than a standard lift.
By publicly aligning himself with Chmerkovskiy and validating the choreographic choices made by Johnson and Shum, Savchenko underscored the tension between traditional judging standards and the evolving styles present on the show. His declaration of being "Team Val" signals a broader conversation among former professionals about the fairness of scoring and judging criteria in recent seasons.