‘DWTS’ Judge Carrie Ann Inaba Speaks Out After Val Chmerkovskiy Suspension & Calls For “New Lift Rule”
Carrie Ann Inaba is finally addressing the Dancing with the Stars drama after Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended and is calling for a “new lift rule.” The DWTS judge made controversial comments on the October 13 episode and called out pro dancer Jenna Johnson for a lift, which is severely frowned upon in the ballroom dancing […]
Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba is addressing recent controversy involving a lift rule violation during the show's "Super Bowl Night" episode. Inaba critiqued pro dancer Jenna Johnson for performing a lift with partner Harry Shum Jr. that violated ballroom standards, a moment that went viral. Inaba has since called for a "new lift rule" in the comments of an Instagram post.
The situation escalated when Johnson's husband, fellow pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, posted an online comment in defense of his wife. TheWrap reports that Chmerkovskiy wrote that viewers "almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom," a remark interpreted as a reference to the 2022 Oscars slap, which resulted in his one-week suspension from the show.
Inaba clarified her silence on the matter, stating she had not spoken out due to professional courtesy and standards and practices regarding competing participants. According to TheWrap, Inaba noted that she and Johnson "hugged it out" after the show and that Johnson was a professional, though Inaba later learned that Johnson was deeply hurt by the incident.
Brief written by urgent.news from Deadline, TheWrap, Variety — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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