Carrie Ann Inaba Breaks Silence on DWTS Controversy

Carrie Ann Inaba, a judge on 'Dancing With the Stars,' has officially addressed the recent tensions surrounding the show, including her critique of lifts and the incident involving professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy. Inaba explained that she and dancer Jenna Johnson had already resolved a disagreement over lift execution, highlighting a positive resolution between them. She noted that Johnson was professional and that they 'hugged it out' after the show.

However, the situation escalated when Chmerkovskiy made an inappropriate social media comment, referencing a past public incident. This led to BBC Studios benching him for an episode due to his post not reflecting the show's values. Chmerkovskiy later apologized, acknowledging his poor judgment and that Inaba was unfairly caught in the middle.

Looking ahead, Inaba suggested creating a new lift rule for the upcoming season. She proposed a joint session with dancers and judges to discuss the rule's origins, purpose—safety and fairness—and how it has evolved. Inaba emphasized the importance of collaboration to foster better understanding among dancers, judges, and the audience as the show continues to grow.