Val Chmerkovskiy Defends Jenna Johnson After DWTS Critique

Val Chmerkovskiy publicly defended Jenna Johnson after judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized the dancer’s samba on Dancing with the Stars, drawing attention to a separate social-media post that some viewers interpreted as a reference to Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap. The post’s intended meaning has not been established. During the Oct. 13 episode, Johnson and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr., performed a samba to Usher’s “Yeah!” Inaba said the routine needed more samba content and pointed out a lift. Johnson appeared surprised and asked, “A lift?” Inaba then read the show’s definition: a lift occurs when a dancer has both feet off the floor with assistance or support from a partner. After the exchange, Johnson told co-host Julianne Hough that she understood the feedback and would accept it, explaining that she had thought a lift meant lifting one’s partner. In a later interview, Johnson said she respected the judges’ role and would take their comments. Shum said they had aimed to deliver a halftime-show performance while incorporating samba. The pair received 33 out of 40 points and remained in the competition. Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson were eliminated that episode.