Emma Slater defends Alan Bersten in a TikTok comment after a fan questioned why her boyfriend stepped in to partner with Jenna Dewan on “Dancing With the Stars.” Slater, 37, kept her reply short: “Yeah that’s what happens. We all step in for each other.”
Bersten, 32, filled in for Val Chmerkovskiy, 40, for a Viennese waltz with Dewan, 45, on the Tuesday, Oct. 20, Dedication Night episode, according to Us Weekly. Chmerkovskiy was benched for one week over a social media post the show’s producers called inappropriate.
What Happened on “Dancing With the Stars”
The trouble started after the Oct. 13 Super Bowl Night episode, when judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized a lift in the samba performed by Chmerkovskiy’s wife, pro Jenna Johnson, and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr. Chmerkovskiy fired back in a since-deleted TikTok post that read, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” a reference to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. He later apologized to Inaba.
BBC Studios, the show’s production company, addressed the suspension directly in a statement Saturday, Oct. 17. “The well-being of everyone who works on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ is non-negotiable. 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,” the statement read.
The show then turned to Bersten to step into Chmerkovskiy’s role for Dewan’s Viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody,” a dance she dedicated to her mother.
Emma Slater’s Response to Fan Criticism
Slater’s reply came after a fan questioned the decision to use Bersten as the replacement. Her response framed the swap as routine for the show’s professional dancers rather than a special arrangement tied to her relationship with Bersten. She stuck to the fan’s specific question instead of wading into wider social media chatter about the couple.
Not everyone online shared the same view of Bersten’s selection. Longtime “DWTS” pro Gleb Savchenko questioned Bersten’s technique during a TikTok livestream, saying, “He’s just not up to the level of dancing, period.” Savchenko said he had nothing against Bersten personally but still asked, “Why Alan?”
Background on Slater, Bersten and the Current Season
Slater and Bersten went public with their relationship in April 2025. Both are professional dancers on “Dancing With the Stars,” though their season 35 paths have diverged.
Bersten and his celebrity partner, Giada De Laurentiis, 56, were eliminated in the second week of the season on Sept. 22. Slater remains in the competition with her partner, Savannah Bananas star Jackson Olson.
That early exit left Bersten free to step in when needed, including the Dedication Night assignment with Dewan.
What’s Next
Chmerkovskiy’s suspension covers one week, based on the BBC Studios statement that he would not participate in “next week’s show.” He’s expected back in the ballroom after that single-episode absence, though no additional details on his status have been made public.
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