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DWTS: Inaba's brutal critique sparks fan fury
11 Nov
Summary
- Carrie Ann Inaba's critique of Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold's cha-cha angered viewers.
- The judges, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, offered differing opinions on the performances.
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas won the dance-off, earning bonus points.
On a recent episode of Dancing With the Stars, judge Carrie Ann Inaba faced backlash from fans for her critical assessment of Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold's cha-cha performance. The audience booed Inaba after she stated their routine, which featured significant fringe and a country line dance element, was not a true cha-cha.
Fellow judges offered contrasting views. Derek Hough praised Wood's stage presence and charisma while calling Maura Higgins's routine gorgeous and classy. Bruno Tonioli noted the "fringe-a-thon" costumes and described Higgins's performance as "cheeky, sexy." Ultimately, Higgins and her partner Mark Ballas won the dance-off, earning two additional points.
Despite Inaba's feedback, both Wood and Arnold, and Higgins and Ballas, successfully advanced to the semifinals. However, Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy were eliminated at the conclusion of the night. The show continues to air Tuesdays on ABC and Disney+.
