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Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba is speaking out after fans questioned her scoring during the show's emotional Dedication Night episode.
The longtime judge, who has been with the series since its 2005 premiere, found herself at the centre of criticism when viewers took to social media to challenge her ratings for certain contestants. One fan commented on her Instagram post, questioning why she gave Robert Irwin an eight, claiming he outperformed Dylan Efron.
Inaba responded directly, saying it was perfectly fine for fans to disagree with her decisions. She explained that part of what makes Dancing With the Stars engaging is the variety of perspectives from the judges and the audience. She encouraged viewers to keep voting for their favorite contestants and thanked them for their passion and opinions.
The backlash didn't stop online. During the October 14 live show, Inaba was met with boos from the studio audience after offering critical feedback to Danielle Fishel and her partner Pasha Pashkov, despite their performance featuring Fishel's Boy Meets World costar, William Daniels, known to fans as Mr. Feeny.
"I love a throwback," she said during the broadcast, noting that some of Fishel's routines were beginning to feel repetitive. She encouraged the pair to add more variety and energy to their performances, directing part of the feedback toward Pasha as well.
Pasha later shared his perspective, telling Variety that the critique felt "unfair," arguing that their two recent dances were naturally similar in style. Still, he said he respected the feedback and praised his partner for her continued hard work.
Danielle, meanwhile, took the comments in stride, telling Us Weekly that she understood the critique and didn't take offense, recognizing Inaba's intent to push contestants to grow.
Inaba has previously said she welcomes strong opinions from fans, adding that their reactions—whether cheers or boos—show how deeply invested people are in the competition.
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
