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.
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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.”
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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.”
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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.
