Why Is Gabby Windey’s Partner Val Chmerkovskiy Not on ‘DWTS’ Tonight?

Val Chmerkovskiy has been forced to miss the October 31 episode of Dancing with the Stars.

The professional dancer, 36, has been partnered with The Bachelorette star Gabby Windey on Season 31 of the Disney+ competition, which also boasts actor Wayne Brady and Ru Paul’s Drag Race star Shangela on the cast.

For the Halloween episode, Windey, 31, will be dancing with Alan Bersten instead, with the duo set to perform an Argentine tango to “Shivers” by District 78 featuring Mikayla Lynn.

Newsweek has everything you need to know about why Windey has had to change partners on Dancing with the Stars this week.

Why Is Val Not on Dancing with the Stars Tonight?

Chmerkovskiy confirmed on October 28 that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and would not be taking part in Week 7 of Dancing with the Stars 2022.

He revealed the news on Instagram, telling his 1.1 million followers: “I got some bad news. I, unfortunately, tested positive for COVID and will not be able to perform this Monday.

“It sucks majorly for lack of a better, more profound word.”

In the video the former champion, who won the show in 2015 with actress Rumer Willis, confirmed that Windey had tested negative and would be paired up with Bersten, 28, this week instead.

Bersten was also a competitor on this season of Dancing with the Stars and had been paired up with musician Jessie James Decker.

The pair were ousted from the competition last week after the judges chose to save Trevor Donovan and Emma Slater in the elimination.

Chmerkovskiy continued to his fans: “This is a huge bummer, I’m very disappointed, I feel like I let some people down.” He also revealed he had “selfishly” been “really looking forward” to performing an Argentine tango with Windey.

“Hopefully you guys will vote us through for another week,” he added, before concluding: “This is a minor setback for a major comeback.”

Windey and Chmerkovskiy have had a successful run so far on the show and scored earned a 46 out of 50 for their rumba in Week 6. The week before they achieved a perfect score for their Prom Night-themed tango to “Good Girls Go Bad” by Cobra Starship and Leighton Meester.

Chmerkovskiy’s wife, Jenna Johnson, is also a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars but she is not taking part this season as she is pregnant with her and Chmerkovskiy’s first child.

Windey shared her concerns for both Chmerkovskiy and his wife after the news broke, commenting underneath Chmerkovskiy’s post: “We’ll miss you!! Just want Jenna to stay safe and you to feel better!”

Angela Ribeiro, who is married to Dancing with the Stars host Alfonso Ribeiro, also responded to the news and wrote: “Ugh sorry Val…feel better and see you next wk!”

Decker, who was previously partnered with Windey’s dance partner this week Bersten, said: “Feel better,” alongside a series of prayer hands and love heart emojis.

Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on Disney+. The episodes will then be available to stream.

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