# DWTS Pulls Val Chmerkovskiy Over Inappropriate Carrie Ann Inaba Slap Joke

“Dancing With the Stars” removed Val Chmerkovskiy after he made an “inappropriate” joke about slapping judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The show said staff well-being is “non-negotiable.” The incident highlights heightened scrutiny of workplace conduct in entertainment productions.

**Importance:** 2/5

## Sources

### Entertainment
- [Variety](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/dancing-with-the-stars-pulls-val-chmerkovskiy-carrie-ann-inaba-slap-joke-1236915031/) — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 19:30:00 +0000