Maks Chmerkovskiy is standing by his younger brother, Val Chmerkovskiy, after the professional dancer was suspended from Dancing with the Stars following a controversial social media post about judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

Maks, 46, addressed the situation during an interview with E! News on October 22, saying he believes Val, 40, will find a way forward after the incident.

“I love him, and he’s my brother, and he’s been on the other side of my antics, I guess, in the past, and I think we’re gonna keep it moving,” Maks said. “He’s gonna handle it.”

The former DWTS professional confirmed that he had spoken with Val and offered his support. However, he made it clear that he would leave his younger brother to deal with the situation himself.

“I’ve spoken to him. I’m there for him, but there’s not something that I should sort of let him know that he doesn’t already [know],” Maks explained. “I’m gonna let him handle it.”

Maks also reflected on his own 11-year run on the competition, which began in Season 2 and ended after Season 25. Rather than focusing on the controversy, he expressed gratitude for his time on the show and said he was happy to see Val continue his journey.

“It’s amazing that I got to do it and now I get to watch someone do it too. I don’t mean get in trouble, I mean live the Dancing with the Stars life. So I’m happy for him,” he said.

Val’s suspension came after he referenced the infamous 2022 Oscars incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock in a since-deleted social media post. The controversy began during the October 13 episode of DWTS, when Inaba criticized a samba performed by Val’s wife, fellow professional dancer Jenna Johnson, and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr.

Inaba questioned a lift during the routine and consulted the rule book while explaining her concerns. Val subsequently posted a comment referencing Smith’s slap of Rock at the Academy Awards, prompting viewers to question why he had brought up an incident involving physical aggression in response to the judge’s criticism.

Val apologized to Inaba on Instagram on October 15. In a statement confirming his suspension, he explained that he had intended to defend his wife but failed to consider what his reference could imply.

“In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme to ‘keep my wife’s name’ out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention,” he wrote.

“Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was.”

Val also said he did not want the controversy to distract from Dedication Night or the work of his temporary replacement, Alan Bersten, who partnered Jenna Dewan while Val sat out the October 20 episode.

“The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is putting in,” he wrote, asking fans to send love to Inaba, Dewan and the DWTS family.

Val later thanked Bersten for stepping in and praised the performance on social media. “Thank you for stepping in and doing such an amazing job. Jenna looks so good and most importantly happy,” he commented on Bersten’s post.

The controversy also brought renewed attention to Maks’ own history with the show. Last season, he criticized new professional dancer Jan Ravnik, claiming he had “absolutely no business being a pro” on DWTS. Maks later apologized for his remarks, acknowledging that he had made “incredible mistakes” during his own time on the competition.

He specifically reflected on how he presented himself and his loss of temper, which he said had led to “horrible situations.”

Val is expected to return to the ballroom with Dewan for the October 27 episode, following the completion of his one-week suspension. His return will mark his first performance since the controversy, while Maks has made it clear that he will continue supporting his brother as he moves forward.

Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.