Val Chmerkovskiy Suspended from Dancing with the Stars After Social‑Media Post | JQJO

Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended from the October 20 episode of *Dancing with the Stars* after a deleted Instagram post referenced Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars slap. The post, directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba, prompted the first suspension in the series’ history. Chmerkovskiy confirmed the suspension on Oct. 17, saying he would still be “watching and cheering everyone on.” Alan Bersten stepped in to dance with Jenna Dewan, performing a Viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody.” Chmerkovskiy apologized to Inaba and the show, stating he had “never intended” to cause a distraction. The episode aired without Chmerkovskiy, who was absent from the ballroom.

Researchers at Mass General Brigham in Boston have created artificial intelligence models that can estimate a cancer patient’s biological age and survival chances from a single facial photograph. The models, trained on more than forty million images, analyze specific facial regions to gauge health and mortality risk. Published Monday in The Lancet Digital Health, the study suggests facial analysis could become an additional tool for doctors when evaluating treatment options for cancer patients.

The New York Knicks will open the 2026‑27 NBA season by facing the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 20, 2026. This first matchup of the season for both teams marks the opening contest of the campaign.

French authorities extended curfews and increased police presence after rioters torched buildings and looted thousands of businesses this weekend. President Emmanuel Macron blamed radical far‑left groups and criminals for the violence and vowed to punish rioters while listening to protest demands. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a massive police deployment ahead of demonstrations scheduled for October twenty‑four. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted authorities underestimated the unrest and lost control in some cities during Saturday’s protests. Over two thousand five hundred people were taken into police custody by Monday evening, including those who burned a historic town hall in Limoges. Overnight curfews were imposed around Paris’ Place de la République and Les Halles, with restrictions also introduced in Lyon and other cities. The government offered concessions, such as deploying more than three thousand substitute teachers to high schools most in need on October eighth.

On Dancing with the Stars Dedication Night, pro dancer Connor Wood performed a Viennese waltz to Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” dedicating the dance to his father, Pete. Wood, wearing a burgundy suit, glided across the ballroom before joining his dad near the piano for an emotional embrace. Judges praised his performance: Derek Hough noted he had “come a long way,” Kym Johnson highlighted his infectious smile, Bruno Tonioli called it a “proper, real Viennese waltz,” and Carrie Ann Inaba named Wood the night’s most improved dancer. Wood earned a perfect score of 32/40, all straight 8s. The episode aired at 9:30 pm ET.

In October 2026, Daily Kos marked another Tongue Out Tuesday, a campaign to expose fake accounts and disinformation. The site reported that a foreign influence operation had targeted Daily Kos with propaganda. Daily Kos’ team identified and shut down the bots and fake accounts, noting that the effort relies on reader support rather than a billionaire backer or paywall. The organization urged readers to contribute $5 to help keep independent, progressive media running and to give the truth a fighting chance.

The New York Giants released running back Najee Harris two days after he started in a loss to the New Orleans Saints. Harris, who had only four carries in the 34‑27 defeat, expressed frustration with the team’s running‑back‑by‑committee approach. Head coach John Harbaugh acknowledged the player’s concerns and emphasized the need for a consistent rhythm. In five games with the Giants, Harris accumulated 31 carries for 99 yards, the lowest average of his six‑year NFL career. The release marks a swift roster change following the Sunday night loss.

Judge Ana Reyes withdrew her request that Justice Department attorneys sign a filing in the East Potomac Golf Links case after President Donald Trump called her a “crazed lunatic” on Truth Social. The reversal came after a nearly seven‑hour hearing in which Reyes had invoked Rule 11 to require DOJ attorneys to identify who signed the brief. Reyes said she would no longer require the identification, citing “better things to spend our time on.” The case centers on Trump’s plan to renovate the federally owned golf course, which the National Park Service recently removed about 430 trees from. The judge’s earlier temporary restraining order barred further tree removals, and the hearing prompted Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward to seek Reyes’ removal from the case. Both Woodward and Trump have requested the release of the court’s audio recordings of the proceedings.