What did Derek Hough and Carrie Ann Inaba disagree about on DWTS?

Derek Hough and Carrie Ann Inaba disagreed over the technical execution and perceived focus on technique during Whitney Leavitt's cha-cha performance.

What was Whitney Leavitt's score on Dancing With the Stars?

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas earned a score of 29 out of 30 for their cha-cha on the November 18th episode.

Why did Whitney Leavitt join 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives'?

Whitney Leavitt joined 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' to take a chance and pursue opportunities, including participating in Dancing With the Stars.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / DWTS Judges Clash Over Whitney Leavitt's Cha-Cha

DWTS Judges Clash Over Whitney Leavitt's Cha-Cha

19 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Judges Derek Hough and Carrie Ann Inaba sharply disagreed on Whitney Leavitt's cha-cha technique.
Leavitt and partner Mark Ballas earned a near-perfect score of 29 for their Prince tribute dance.
Leavitt discussed her motivation for participating in 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives'.

DWTS Judges Clash Over Whitney Leavitt's Cha-Cha

The semifinals of 'Dancing With the Stars' season 34 saw a notable clash between judges Derek Hough and Carrie Ann Inaba concerning Whitney Leavitt's cha-cha performance. While Bruno Tonioli praised the dance for its execution and difficulty, Inaba expressed that Leavitt's focus on technique seemed to hinder her usual performative prowess. Hough, however, strongly defended Leavitt's technique, calling her performance "literal perfection" and highlighting the risk of performing a cha-cha in the semifinals.