{
  "id": 16804721,
  "title": "‘DWTS’ Judge Carrie Ann Inaba Speaks Out After Val Chmerkovskiy Suspension & Calls For “New Lift Rule”",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/dwts-judge-carrie-ann-inaba-speaks-out-after-val-chmerkovskiy",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-27T22:06:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Deadline",
    "slug": "deadline",
    "url": "https://deadline.com/2026/10/dwts-carrie-ann-inaba-val-chmerkovskiy-suspension-1237206609/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nInaba 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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Variety",
        "title": "Carrie Ann Inaba Speaks Out After Val Chmerkovskiy’s ‘DWTS’ Suspension, Requests Show to Add ‘New Lift Rule’ Next Season",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/carrie-ann-inaba-speaks-out-after-val-chmerkovskiys-dwts-suspension",
        "published": "2026-10-27T17:43:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TheWrap",
        "title": "‘DWTS’ Lift Drama: Judge Carrie Ann Inaba Says She ‘Hugged It Out’ With Jenna Johnson After Controversial Penalty",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/dwts-lift-drama-judge-carrie-ann-inaba-says-she-hugged-it-out-with",
        "published": "2026-10-27T18:34:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}