“The Snub That Shattered the Ballroom”: Val Chmerkovskiy Explodes Over Sasha Farber Being Cut From DWTS Season 34 Amid Contract Feuds, Backstage Betrayals, and Furious Fan Outrage
Val Chmerkovskiy has entered the chat after Dancing With the Stars surprised fans by not bringing Sasha Farber back as a pro for season 34.
“It’s not personal,” Chmerkovskiy, 39, exclusively told Us Weekly on Sunday, September 7, on the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet. “It’s the nature of this business.”
Chmerkovskiy confessed that “it’s personal for anybody who’s invested” in the show and the dancers, which won’t include fan-favorites Farber, 41, or Chmerkovskiy’s sister-in-law, Peta Murgatroyd, this season.
“The way I’m speaking about Dancing with the Stars [is] the same way they feel about that sort of stuff,” Chmerkovskiy explained, having gushed to Us about the “gravity” of being on DWTS 20 years after it first premiered.
He added, “So it definitely hurts,” noting that “breakups happen in life” and the show must go on.
ABC announced on Wednesday, September 3, which pros would be returning to the ballroom for the upcoming season 34. The network also revealed the full lineup of celebrity contestants, including Chmerkovskiy’s dance partner, social media personality Alix Earle.
When Farber wasn’t on the list, many fans were outraged. However, he wasn’t alone, as Murgatroyd, 39, and Lindsay Arnold are also sitting out this season.
Farber, who made his DWTS debut in 2013, commented on his absence on Wednesday via a TikTok video.
“It is a beautiful day today. Guys, the Dancing With the Stars cast announcement was today. Wow, so many good names,” Farber told his followers. “Who are you going to vote for? I mean, I know who I’m going to vote for. I know who you’re not going to vote for — that’s me. But that’s OK.”
The professional dancer then gave his fans a shout-out for all their support over the years. “Thank you all so much for all your incredible messages. I read them all, I see it all, I adore you,” he said. “I definitely don’t deserve you because you guys are amazing. I love you. Thank you so much.”
Farber concluded: “This is going to be quite the season … who’s gonna win? Anyone could win. This is going to be great and I can’t wait to cheer. Love you all.”
While fans will miss Farber’s energy, there is a lot to look forward to, according to Chmerkovskiy.
“It’s exciting,” he told Us on Sunday of the next chapter for the competition series. “Twenty years in, we’re having our record-breaking season. It’s a huge accomplishment, not just for me, but for the entire production that you never talk to and never get to see on camera.”
Chmerkovskiy also teased that this season he hopes to one-up his wife, Jenna Johnson, who took home the trophy last season with dance partner Joey Graziadei.
“She’s still the winner until the new Mirrorball trophy winner. She’s the reigning champ. I’m so proud of her. I’m still glowing from her win last year,” he gushed, before getting serious. “I’m going to try to take it away from her — or add to it. It’s all adding to it.”
The Ukrainian dancer added, “It’s an interesting thing that we’re on a competition show together that has such an incredible volume of support and following. But like I said, you know, we still have a competition show. And I love dance, and I love competing.”
Dancing With the Stars season 34 premieres on ABC and Disney+ Tuesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET.
"Is Towanda the REAL Problem? Fans Call Out Family Drama After His Exclusion from Season 2 of 'Braxton Family Values'"
The drama surrounding Braxton Family Values has reached new heights as fans are calling out the family for their hypocrisy and questionable decisions. Last season, viewers witnessed intense family dynamics play out on screen, with several controversial moments that left fans divided. One of the most talked-about storylines was how the show used his personal life for ratings, including airing his mother’s illness despite her husband’s objections. To make matters worse, he even missed an important court date just to film the show in Atlanta.
But now, with Season 2 just around the corner, it’s been revealed that he will not be part of the upcoming season. The reason? Towanda has reportedly refused to allow his father to film, which led to his exclusion from the show. This decision has sparked outrage among fans who are now questioning the true motivations behind Towanda’s actions.
"It’s crazy how last season he let them use his whole situation for ratings and views, even missed an important court date just to film in Atlanta," one fan pointed out, showing disbelief at the fact that his personal struggles were put on display for the sake of entertainment. Fans are now wondering why, after all that, he is being shut out of Season 2, particularly when his personal life was previously a focal point of the show.
The situation has led many to point fingers at Towanda, with some fans now seeing her as the root cause of the family’s ongoing turmoil. "At this point, it’s clear Towanda is the common denominator in all the family’s mess," another fan said, implying that her actions are stirring up more trouble within the Braxton family. Towanda’s refusal to allow his father to appear on the show has many wondering whether she’s playing a larger role in manipulating the storyline and controlling the narrative for her own benefit.
While many viewers are questioning Towanda’s role in the drama, others feel that the show has crossed a line by exploiting such personal moments for ratings. The use of his family’s most intimate struggles — especially his mother’s illness — seems to have hit a nerve with fans who are now wondering just how far the Braxton family will go to stay in the spotlight.
Ultimately, it’s clear that the Braxton Family Values series is far from over when it comes to drama, and fans are left wondering what’s really happening behind the scenes. As Season 2 approaches, only time will tell if the family can reconcile their differences or if the drama will escalate even further.
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