Jenna Dewan’s fiancé, Steve Kazee, rallies behind dancer after partner Val Chmerkovskiy’s ‘DWTS’ suspension: ‘We got you’

By Page Six | Created at 2026-10-18 15:46:55 | Updated at 2026-10-18 17:05:52 1 hour ago

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Jenna Dewan’s fiancé, Steve Kazee, showed his support for the actress after her “Dancing With the Stars” partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, was suspended from the show for a week.

“Everytime I think I can’t love you more, your grace, your class and your heart prove me wrong,” the “Shameless” alum, 50, wrote via his Instagram Stories Saturday, alongside a photo of Dewan, 45, dolled up from the show’s “Super Bowl Night.”

“You got this baby! We got you!” he added.

Jenna Dewan’s fiancé, Steve Kazee, penned a special tribute for her after her “Dancing With the Stars” partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, was suspended. (Seen here: Dewan and Kazee.) jennadewan/instagram
“Everytime I think I can’t love you more, your grace, your class and your heart prove me wrong,” the actor wrote via his Instagram Stories Saturday. (Seen here: Dewan in the tribute.) stevekazee/instagram

Kazee, who announced his engagement to Dewan in 2020, has supported the “Step Up” star since she began her “DWTS” journey with Chmerkovskiy in September.

However, Dewan’s journey on the competition series took a surprising turn after Chmerkovskiy, 40, was suspended from performing for one week following his controversial social media post referring to Will Smith and Chris Rock’s 2022 Oscars incident.

In a TikTok post, the pro dancer defended his wife, Jenna Johnson, after judge Carrie Ann Inaba gave harsh feedback for including a lift in her and actor Harry Shum Jr.’s samba at “Super Bowl Night.”

“You got this baby! We got you!” the “Shameless” alum (seen here with Dewan) continued. stevekazee/instagram
Chmerkovskiy (seen here with Dewan) was suspended from “Dancing With the Stars.” Disney via Getty Images

During the episode, Johnson, 32, appeared taken back by the remarks as Inaba read the definition of a lift from a paper.

“Any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner,” the judge read.

Additionally, Inaba, 58, also told Shum Jr. to “put more content in [his] dances.”

Chmerkovskiy responded to the remarks by taking to social media and referring to the 2022 Oscars when Smith instructed Rock not to make jokes about his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, by saying, “Keep my wife’s name out your f–king mouth!”

The “I Am Legend” star, also 58, then approached the “Everybody Hates Chris” co-creator, 61, and slapped him onstage.

“You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” Chmerkovskiy wrote in a TikTok status, which he later deleted.

The pro dancer was suspended after he referenced Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscar incident in a TikTok status while defending his wife Jenna Johnson against judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s harsh feedback during last week’s episode. Inbstagram/valentin
Inaba (seen here) critiqued Johnson for her dance with Harry Shum Jr. Disney

Inaba responded to the comments via her Instagram Stories, writing, “So this is what we are doing now?”

A few days later, it was revealed that Chmerkovskiy would be sitting out of the forthcoming “DWTS” episode.

“The well-being of everyone who works on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is non-negotiable,” a statement from a BBC Studios producer read, according to Deadline.

“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,” they added.

Chmerkovskiy also responded to his suspension, writing in a separate statement that his “instinct” was to “defend” Johnson.

Inaba stated that Johnson and Shum Jr. (seen here) had performed a lift during their samba. Disney
Chmerkovskiy (seen here) apologized for his “poor decision.” Disney

Chmerkovskiy admitted that he “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 judgment, and I hate that she was,” he continued, adding that 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.”

Dewan will be dancing with “DWTS” pro Alan Bersten on Tuesday’s “Dedication Night.” The duo is set to perform a Viennese waltz in honor of Dewan’s mom, Nancy Bursch.

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