Maks Chmerkovskiy Praises Alan Bersten's Surprise DWTS Performance

Former Dancing With the Stars pro Maks Chmerkovskiy is weighing in after Alan Bersten stood in for Val Chmerkovskiy on Dedication Night.

"I mean, Alan stepped in for me at some point as well, so I'm very familiar with Alan stepping in," Maks, 46, exclusively told Us ahead of the 2026 Dancers Against Cancer's Gala of the Stars at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 22. "He did a great job. I think everybody can move on."

News broke on Saturday, October 17, that Val, 40, would not perform with partner Jenna Dewan on season 35's Dedication Night after he made a controversial comment toward judge Carrie Ann Inaba, who called out a lift in Jenna Johnson's Super Bowl Night samba with Harry Shum Jr. Val defended his wife via social media — claiming in a since-deleted post that he almost went "Fresh Prince" on Inaba, 58 — before issuing a public apology.