Judge Dancing With the Stars, Carrie Ann Inaba, is responding to criticism regarding her scoring on the show.
On October 15, Inaba, 57, took to the comments section of her Instagram update to address grievances from DWTS fans who have voiced displeasure with her scoring decisions.
“It’s perfectly fine to have different opinions on what we see. That’s part of what makes our show so enjoyable,” she stated. “Your vote matters, and we want you to support what you love. I value your feedback and the manner in which you share your thoughts. ❤️ Thank you for your enthusiasm and your viewpoints.”
Her comments seemed to be in direct response to numerous fans questioning her scoring for specific contestants.
“How do you justify a 9 for Whitney [Leavitt] but only an 8 for Robert [Irwin]?” one viewer remarked. “Girl, get it together.”
Another fan asked, “Can you clarify your reasoning for giving Whitney a 9 when she was off the beat? With her experience, she shouldn’t have difficulties, especially since Robert and even Jen [Affleck] performed beautifully with perfect timing but received lower scores. It’s puzzling to watch, and I’m curious about your scoring process.”
Earlier in the week, Inaba was booed by the audience during her critique on the October 14 episode of the show.
In the featured segment of the “Dedication Night” episode, Danielle Fishel from Boy Meets World performed alongside her partner Pasha Pashkov, receiving a visit from her former co-star William Daniels (Mr. Feeny).
Carrie Ann Inaba. (Photo by Eric McCandless via Getty Images)
While the audience enjoyed the nostalgia of Daniels, 98, Inaba remained critical, stating, “I appreciate the nostalgia, but I want to express this: some dances are beginning to feel repetitive.”
She added, “Please bring more variety in dynamics. This also falls on you, Pasha.”
In response to her feedback, the audience responded with loud boos.
In an exclusive statement to Us Weekly, Fishel, 44, expressed that she was not hurt by Inaba’s comments. “I truly understand what Carrie Ann meant, which is why I wasn’t offended. I appreciate her honesty,” she shared on Tuesday.
Inaba had previously discussed the audience’s booing during October 2023 in an interview with Parade, stating that she wasn’t deterred by the audience responses. “What matters is that people voice their opinions. Viewer investment is key to this competition,” she mentioned. “We’re one of the few shows where judges publicly display their scores. This makes our critiques significant, and viewer input is equally important. So, it’s reassuring when they boo; it shows they’re supporting their favorites.”
Dancing With the Stars is broadcast on ABC and Disney+ every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
