{"id":267029,"date":"2026-10-05T19:22:33","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T19:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/05\/dwts-val-chmerkovskiy-emma-slater-call-out-headline-calling-his-niece-hailey-bills-a-nepo-baby\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T19:22:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T19:22:33","slug":"dwts-val-chmerkovskiy-emma-slater-call-out-headline-calling-his-niece-hailey-bills-a-nepo-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/05\/dwts-val-chmerkovskiy-emma-slater-call-out-headline-calling-his-niece-hailey-bills-a-nepo-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"DWTS\u2019 Val Chmerkovskiy & Emma Slater Call Out Headline Calling His Niece Hailey Bills a \u2018Nepo-Baby\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"


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ABC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dancing with the Stars <\/em><\/strong>pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy<\/strong><\/a> is defending his niece, Hailey Bills<\/strong>, against claims that she’s a nepo-baby.<\/p>\n

If you don’t know, Hailey<\/strong>, 20, is the niece of Val <\/strong>and his wife Jenna Johnson<\/strong>, who are both pro dancers on DWTS<\/em>. Hailey<\/strong> is the daughter of Jenna<\/strong>‘s older sister Stacy Bills<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Hailey was in the DWTS<\/em> troupe last season, and was upgraded to a pro this season. She was paired with Sarah Jane Nader<\/strong>, and they were eliminated second.<\/p>\n

\"Val<\/a>
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A Headline Was Published About Hailey Bills That Read, “How \u2018DWTS\u2019 Pro Hailey Bills Is Using Her Nepo Baby Status to Dance Her Way to the Top”<\/h3>\n

The headline was part of a Hollywood Reporter<\/em> piece, and Val <\/strong>saw it on Instagram.<\/p>\n

He took to the comments to defend her.<\/p>\n

Val<\/strong> posted on Instagram<\/a>, “Ok well then I\u2019ll speak up for her. What a nonsense headline, this girl is not just qualified but by some metrics might be overqualified. A long way to go and grow for her of course, but the audacity to discredit the nearly 15years of work at the highest level without a single handout, all the way to all-around best dancer titles numerous times, along with a quality and range of movement that speaks for itself. This girl is pure class as she should be, but then I\u2019ll be the guy to advocate. There, also she\u2019s the best and she\u2019s my niece :)”<\/p>\n

\"Emma<\/a>
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Another DWTS’ Pro Called Out the Headline <\/h3>\n

Emma Slater<\/strong><\/a> wrote, “Yeah this headline though” with an eye roll emoji.<\/p>\n

Daniella Karagach<\/strong><\/a> also commented, but she wrote, “You\u2019re a freaking star.”<\/p>\n

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The post DWTS’ Val Chmerkovskiy & Emma Slater Call Out Headline Calling His Niece Hailey Bills a ‘Nepo-Baby’<\/a> appeared first on Just Jared – Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos<\/a>.<\/p>\n