Chmerkovskiy was suspended following his offensive comments toward judge Carrie Ann Inaba

NEED TO KNOW

• Val Chmerkovskiy has returned to Dancing with the Stars rehearsal
• The pro dancer reunited with partner Jenna Dewan after serving a one-show suspension over his comments about judge Carrie Ann Inaba
• Pro Alan Bersten stepped in for Chmerkovskiy during the show’s Oct. 20 “Dedication Night” episode

Val Chmerkovskiy has returned to Dancing with the Stars following his absence during the Oct. 20 episode.

PEOPLE has learned Chmerkovskiy, 40, has resumed rehearsals with partner Jenna Dewan and is expected to appear back on the show on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

PEOPLE has reached out to representatives for DWTS for comment. The Hollywood Reporter was first to report Chmerkovskiy’s return.

The pro dancer was suspended following his comments toward judge Carrie Ann Inaba after she critiqued his wife, Jenna Johnson, during the Oct. 13 episode. While Chmerkovskiy was sidelined, Alan Bersten stepped in to perform alongside Dewan for her “Dedication Night” routine.

On Saturday, Oct. 17, BBC Studios — which produces DWTS — announced that Chmerkovskiy would not participate in the show’s “Dedication Night.” 

“The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable,” the statement read. “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.” 

Chmerkovskiy’s suspension marks the first in the series’ history. 

Bersten, 32, and Dewan, 45, performed a Viennese waltz to the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody,” which The Rookie actress dedicated to her mother, Nancy. Bersten was eliminated earlier this season alongside his celebrity partner, Giada De Laurentiis. 

“Thank you for stepping in and doing such an amazing job,” Chmerkovskiy later wrote to Bersten on Instagram. “Jenna looks so good and most importantly happy.”

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During the Oct. 13 episode, Inaba critiqued Johnson, 32, and Harry Shum Jr.‘s samba and pointed out an illegal lift. When Johnson questioned Inaba, the judge proceeded to read the definition of a lift and explained that the couple violated the rules. 

In a since-deleted TikTok comment, Chmerkovskiy reportedly wrote, “You almost saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” His comment seemingly referenced the infamous moment at the 2022 Academy Awards when Will Smith told Chris Rock to “Keep my wife’s name out of your f—ing mouth” and slapped him for making a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.  

Shortly after Inaba responded to Chmerkovskiy’s comments — writing, “So this is what we’re doing now?” in a now-deleted Instagram post — the DWTS pro apologized to the judge in a statement shared on his Instagram Story. “I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post,” he wrote. “I have reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly and personally, and I also want to apologize publicly as I understand my words affect so many outside of our internal DWTS family.”

“I should have never made the reference that I did and I deeply regret it,” Chmerkovskiy continued, adding, “I am truly sorry to Carrie Ann, and everyone who I hurt with my careless post. I will do better moving forward.” 

Following the news of his suspension, Chmerkovskiy shared another statement to his Instagram Stories. “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,” he wrote. “Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was.”

Chmerkovskiy continued, “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.”

“Please send Carrie Ann, Jenna, and the whole DWTS family lots of love during Dedication Night,” he concluded. “I’ll be watching and cheering everyone on!”

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

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