How DWTS' Carrie Ann Inaba Cleared the Air With Jenna Johnson
DWTS' Carrie Ann Inaba Breaks Silence on Val Chmerkovskiy’s Suspension
Carrie Ann Inaba and Jenna Johnson have found their rhythm.
Two weeks after the Dancing With the Stars judge faced criticism for her critique of Johnson and partner Harry Shum Jr.'s Super Bowl night performance—calling out what she perceived as an illegal lift—Inaba shared that she and Johnson "were always OK.”
Indeed, Johnson commented on Inaba’s Oct. 24 Instagram post with a double heart, sparkles and twinning girls emojis, with Inaba writing back, “I love and respect you while I have to do my job. And think you are doing great with Harry!”
The 58-year-old specifically mentioned Shum and Johnson’s Dedication Night dance from the Oct. 20 episode, saying it “was profoundly important to Asian Americans in our audience.”
“I wish everyone knew that we had hugged after the Super Bowl show,” she added, “and that we walked away from the night as two powerful women who are professional and also emotional. And this is allowed.”
Inaba also encouraged Johnson to come to her if anything she says in her role as a DWTS judge “hurts you in any way.”
“I am always open and available to listen, discuss and find a peaceful understanding,” she wrote. “And this has always been true.”
Disney/Christopher Willard; Disney/Andrew Eccles
“I love the art form of dancing. For me, it is my whole life's work,” Inaba explained. “My opinion comes from outside the ballroom and Latin experience to balance out the panel. And that is why I have chosen to stay on the panel and speak my truth no matter what people say about me.”
And she said her goal is only to help the pro and their partner “improve,” noting she “will always be open to healing” moments if she says anything that feels hurtful.
In another comment on her post, Inaba also revealed why she didn’t speak about the incident earlier, especially in the wake of Johnson’s husband Val Chmerkovskiy receiving a one-week suspension from the show for alluding to Will Smith’s 2022 Oscar slap when he defended Johnson.
“I have not spoken about what happened because of professional courtesy for those who are still competing,” she explained, “and we actually have standards and practices that keep us separated.”
Disney/Eric McCandless
Inaba reiterated that she and Johnson “hugged it out,” saying that the dancer “was an absolute professional about it.”
The incident also fueled Inaba’s desire to revisit the lift rules she had helped create for Dancing With the Stars, noting that the show has evolved over the years, meaning the rules should evolve, too.
“Working together to create a better understanding between the dancers and the judges and our audience is important to me,” she wrote, “as we move forward and is something I have asked for.”
With DWTS’ Horror Movie Night on the horizon, keep reading for a look at all the stars competing for the Mirrorball trophy this season.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa
You won't hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
The celebrity chef couldn't cha-cha-chop away the competition and was eliminated during the Sept. 22 episode.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart
Sadly, the former '90s teen heartthrob did not MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35. He and his pro partner were axed from the competition on Sept. 29.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov
The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills
Though her sister Brooks Nader was the fifth star to be eliminated on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star said goodbye to the competition after her debut episode on Sept. 16.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold
The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star followed his wife Whitney Leavitt's footsteps after her season 34 appearance, but he bid farwell to the season 35 competition during the Sept. 15 premiere.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jackson Olson & Emma Slater
The Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star was ready to learn some new moves, but his time on DWTS was cut short on Oct. 13.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
Even though Summer House star had fans screaming "bravo," she was eliminated from the competition on Oct. 6.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas
The Love Island U.K. alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience.
"I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."
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