Val Chmerkovskiy's Son Rome, 3, Shares Advice After DWTS Elimination

Nov 12, 2026 - 20:07

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Val Chmerkovskiy's Son Rome, 3, Shares Advice After DWTS Elimination

'Dancing With the Stars' Shockingly Eliminates Frontrunner Before Semi-Finals

Val Chmerkovskiy's biggest fan isn't sidestepping this elimination.

After the season 35 Dancing With the Stars pro and partner Jenna Dewan were knocked out during the Nov. 10 episode, his and wife Jenna Johnson's son Rome, 3, shared a much-needed reminder.

"It's OK to lose, right?" Chmerkovskiy asked the toddler in his Nov. 11 Instagram video. Rome replied, "Yeah, you try your best. If you don't win sometimes, you try to do it so many times."

The dancer—who was eliminated on Grammy Night ahead of the semi-finals despite receiving the second-highest scores from the judges—noted that there will always be ups and downs on the dance floor.

"You gotta learn how to do both," Chmerkovskiy explained. "You gotta learn how to win. You gotta learn how to lose, and it's OK to be sad when you lose for a little bit."

And it helps to have Rome cheering him on. As the 40-year-old put it, "Even though I lost and I'm sad, I feel already better because I have you in my life."

Meanwhile, the toddler emphasized just how many fans Chmerkovskiy—who also faced a one-week suspension earlier in the season after comments made about judge Carrie Ann Inaba—and Dewan had accumulated before their week nine elimination.

"People want you to win because you're a great dancer," Rome said. "You win or you lose, you try again on a different day. If you wanna win, you need to move your body and do it so fast and then you win. You get [to be] the champion."

The dancer captioned the heartwarming interaction alongside a heart emoji and a smiley face, "hard hitting advice from our 3yo."

His comment section was full of love, with guest judge Shirley Ballas writing, "Sending hugs. Great job." Johnson—still in the running alongside partner Harry Shum Jr.—added, "My loves."

While Chmerkovskiy and Dewan won't be holding on to the Mirrorball Trophy this season, the pro had a sweet message for his dance partner after their elimination.

"You've been exactly what I imagined," he captioned his Nov. 11 Instagram post. "The absolute best! Thank you for the opportunity to be by your side through this entire process. I'll never forget it."

As the rest of the contestants continue to put their best foot forward ahead of the semi-finals, keep reading to see all the celebs moving and grooving during this season of Dancing With the Stars.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa

The 10 Things I Hate About You star had her last dance with her pro partner during Nov. 2's Disney Night.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten

The celebrity chef couldn't cha-cha-chop away the competition and was eliminated during the Sept. 22 episode.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson

What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart

Sadly, the former '90s teen heartthrob did not MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35. He and his pro partner were axed from the competition on Sept. 29.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy

Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer stepped up—and out—when she got cut from the competition in a shocking Nov. 10 elimination.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov

The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach

The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills

Though her sister Brooks Nader was the fifth star to be eliminated on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star said goodbye to the competition after her debut episode on Sept. 16.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold

The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star followed his wife Whitney Leavitt's footsteps after her season 34 appearance, but he bid farwell to the season 35 competition during the Sept. 15 premiere.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess

Though the Bachelor Nation star traded in roses for rumbas, he was sent home on Oct. 27 in a double elimination.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Jackson Olson & Emma Slater

The Savannah Bananas baseball player stepped up to the plate, but struck out on Oct. 27 in a double elimination.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson

The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star was ready to learn some new moves, but his time on DWTS was cut short on Oct. 13.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong

Even though Summer House star had fans screaming "bravo," she was eliminated from the competition on Oct. 6.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas

The Love Island U.K. alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience.

"I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."

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