Dancing With the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy and judge Carrie Ann Inaba officially put the lift drama behind them!
Val and Carrie Ann were spotted chatting and hugging after the show’s Horror Movie Night. The moment comes after Val was suspended for one episode following his controversial reaction to Carrie Ann’s critique of his wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson.
In a video obtained by PEOPLE, Carrie Ann acknowledged the attention surrounding their conversation, telling the crowd, “So everyone’s staring. We are coworkers, and we are completely cordial. We are good, okay?” The moment was met with cheers from those around them.
Val later described the interaction as a relief, explaining that he wanted Carrie Ann to hear his feelings directly from him rather than through outside commentary.
“I think it was just really important for me to make sure that she feels safe and knows that, firsthand from me, I want nothing but love for her.”
“I want nothing but joy for her. As much as the world might say otherwise, I want her to know how I feel, not how others want me to feel, but how I genuinely feel,” he continued. “I will have nothing but love for Carrie Ann. I have nothing but respect for what she has to say.”
The tension came after Carrie Ann called out a lift during Jenna and Harry Shum Jr.’s performance on “Super Bowl Night.”
Val subsequently posted a since-deleted TikTok comment that read, “You almost saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” The remark referenced Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscars slapafter the comedian joked about his wife.
Val later apologized to Carrie Ann and called his comment a “poor decision.” He sat out the October 20 “Dedication Night” episode before returning to the ballroom the following week.
