Val Chmerkovskiy and Emma Slater proved they are professionals through and through after an unexpected tumble during the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway show in Miami.
The longtime “Dancing with the Stars” pros were performing a choreographed routine at the event on Saturday, May 30, when wet weather created a slippery situation on the runway.
The Two Recovered Quickly
Chmerkovskiy lost his footing just seconds into the performance, sliding across the slick surface and landing on his backside. Slater soon went down as well as the pair attempted to recover.
Fortunately, neither dancer appeared injured, and thanks to the pre-recorded nature of the production, they were able to redo the routine once conditions improved.
According to the Daily Mail, the event faced weather challenges throughout the day.
Drizzly conditions left portions of the plexiglass runway slippery, and there were concerns that the show could be canceled altogether.
However, once the rain eased, organizers were able to move forward with the production, which is scheduled to stream on Hulu on June 9.
Rather than dwelling on the mishap, Slater decided to have fun with the moment afterward.
The beloved ballroom dancer took to TikTok on May 31 to joke about the viral attention surrounding the fall.
Slater Laughed It Off & Fans Couldn’t Get Enough
“Woke up ready to see my photos from the Sports Illustrated runway show and all I’m seeing online is videos of me and Val falling onstage. Can’t believe we did that!” she wrote.
In the caption, she provided some additional context about what happened.
“In front of SO MANY PEOPLE!! It would be us @Val 😂 Ok there’s a back story though. Plexiglass runway and Florida rain.”
Her followers quickly reassured her that the stumble hadn’t overshadowed the performance.
“If it helps, I only saw you slaying before this post,” one fan commented.
Another admitted they hadn’t even noticed the incident until Slater brought it up herself, writing, “Emma you’re the one telling US this news I had no idea. I’ve only seen videos of you, Jenna and Brit killing the runway.”
Others praised the dancers for handling the moment gracefully.
“Okay in front of the PR Emma I see you. Cause I def haven’t seen THAT lol,” one person joked.
Another fan added, “I didn’t see it until you posted it but honestly it makes me love you and Val even more! You killed it still.”
Several commenters also pointed out how difficult it would be to perform under those conditions.
“I don’t even think I could walk on that plexiglass in the rain let alone dance on it. Still an epic queen in my book,” one follower wrote.
Another noted that Slater’s dancer instincts never disappeared, even during the fall.
“Yeah, girl, but you know what… your toes were pointed even after you fell! True dancer, right there!”
While the brief mishap may have generated plenty of laughs online, fans were quick to focus on what mattered most: Chmerkovskiy and Slater kept their composure, got back up, and continued doing what they do best.
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