Carrie Ann Inaba and Val Chmerkovskiy have reconciled after a tense few weeks on the set of "Dancing With the Stars," according to TMZ.com. The professional dancer had been suspended for one episode after making a remark that the judge perceived as threatening.
The conflict stemmed from a since-deleted TikTok comment in which Chmerkovskiy appeared to reference Will Smith's 2022 Oscars slap. He wrote, "You almost saw the Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night," and later apologized for the remark. Sources told TMZ.com that Inaba raised the issue with BBC Productions and said she felt threatened by the comment. An investigation followed, resulting in Chmerkovskiy's suspension for a single episode.
Following Tuesday's episode of the ABC reality competition, the two co-stars spoke and embraced. In a video obtained by PEOPLE, Inaba addressed the situation directly: "So, everyone's staring. We are coworkers, and we are completely cordial. We are good, OK?"
Chmerkovskiy described the conversation to PEOPLE, saying, "It felt [like] cathartic relief, you know? 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."
Sources close to the show told TMZ.com that Chmerkovskiy approached Inaba and expressed a desire to move past the incident and ensure both parties felt comfortable after the tumultuous period. According to those sources, Inaba was gracious, and the conversation was uplifting for everyone on set.
The reconciliation comes after Chmerkovskiy returned to rehearsal last week, following the completion of his one-episode suspension. Sources indicated that the conversation served as a positive reset for the production and that the dispute is now officially resolved.
The original remark was connected to Inaba's critique of Chmerkovskiy's wife, Jenna Johnson, and her dance partner, Harry Shum Jr., during a prior performance. The incident briefly disrupted production of the long-running series, which airs on ABC.