By TMZ | Created at 2026-10-19 21:32:06 | Updated at 2026-10-19 22:13:27
42 minutes ago
'DWTS' Carrie Ann Inaba Took Val's Slap Joke Straight to HR!!!
Published October 19, 2026 2:30 PM PDT
Carrie Ann Inaba took Val Chmerkovskiy's Will Smith joke as more than just a punchline ... telling HR she felt threatened by the 'DWTS' pro ... TMZ has learned.
Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... Carrie Ann was so heated over Val's remarks, she filed an official complaint with BBC Productions' HR department, demanding something be done.
We're told Val was informed the production company had to follow its guidelines and protocols ... and he was subsequently suspended for one episode.
As TMZ previously reported, the drama erupted after Carrie Ann criticized Val's wife, Jenna Johnson, for including a lift during her routine with Harry Shum Jr.
Val fired back on social media, joking viewers almost saw the "Fresh Prince" enter the ballroom ... a reference to Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.
Val later apologized to Carrie Ann ... but that didn't stop BBC from benching him, with Alan Bersten stepping in to dance with Val's partner, Jenna Dewan.
Our sources say Val has never had a complaint filed against him before ... but he understands the decision and expects to return next week.
We're also told he's received plenty of support from his colleagues, and rumors that he unfollowed Carrie Ann, Alan and Emma Slater are bogus. Sources say he never followed them in the first place.
As for whether Val will get paid for the episode he's missing ... that's still unclear.
