ABC

Val Chmerkovskiy is speaking out amid the ongoing backlash for his recent comments about Carrie Ann Inaba.

On Dancing with the Stars this week, Carrie Ann, 58, criticized pro Jenna Johnson – who is married to Val, 40 – and her celeb partner Harry Shum, Jr. for having a lift in the dance.

After the episode, Val reportedly uploaded a social media post that said, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” to defend his wife. Many took this as a reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. He later deleted the comment.

Carrie Ann saw another celeb news website repost Val‘s comments, and wrote on her Instagram, “So this is what we’re doing now?”

Following Carrie Ann‘s reaction and intense backlash from fans, Val has issued an apology.

“I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post,” Val began his statement on his Instagram Story on Thursday (October 15). “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 our internal DWTS family.”

“I should never have made the reference that I did and I deeply regret it,” he continued. “I recognize that I am in a fortunate position to have a platform and to be a role model to some, and I need to treat that with more care by actively pausing to think before I post to ensure what I am sharing aligns with who I am, and who I want to be for you all.”

“I am truly sorry to Carrie Ann, and everyone I hurt with my careless post,” Val concluded. “I will do better moving forward.”

Carrie Ann has not yet publicly reacted to Val‘s apology.

Val also recently faced a lot of criticism after he debuted his hair in cornrows.

Dancing With the Stars airs live on Tuesdays at 8pm ET on ABC and Disney+.

The post DWTS’ Val Chmerkovskiy Apologizes to Carrie Ann Inaba After Seemingly Threatening to Slap Her appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.