Carrie Ann Inaba Breaks Silence on Val Chmerkovskiy's DWTS Suspension
The "Dancing With the Stars" judge explains her silence on the controversy and proposes a better understanding of the show's lift rules.
Carrie Ann Inaba, a judge on "Dancing With the Stars," has broken her silence regarding professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy's one-week suspension from the show. Inaba addressed the situation in the comments section of her Instagram, stating that she had withheld comment out of "professional courtesy" to the remaining competitors vying for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
"We actually have standards and practices that keep us separated," Inaba wrote on Sunday. "But I think a part of this ‘headline’ has missed a few important parts of what happened."
The controversy stemmed from an incident on Oct. 13 during "Super Bowl Night." Inaba clashed with pro Jenna Johnson, Chmerkovskiy's wife, over a lift during Johnson and her partner Harry Shum Jr.'s samba performance. Reports indicated that Johnson was upset backstage after the exchange, and Chmerkovskiy, who was also reportedly angered, comforted her. Inaba stated that she and Johnson "hugged it out" after the show, and that she later offered to speak with Johnson, who she acknowledged was "deeply hurt."
Inaba, often referred to as the "lift police" on the show, mentioned she had offered to discuss her approach to enforcing the lift rule with Johnson. She also highlighted a video created by fellow pro Sharna Burgess that explains the rules surrounding lifts and assists in different dances.
In a separate comment, Inaba advocated for a dedicated session to discuss the lift rule before the next season. She proposed bringing all dancers and judges together to review "the history of how and why Len Goodman, our original producers and I defined the lift rule," emphasizing its purpose of ensuring "safety and fairness."
"The show has evolved tremendously. The way the show is cast has also changed, and so has our audience and the way they consume the show," Inaba wrote. "So working together to create a better understanding between the dancers and the judges, and our audience is important to me as we move forward and is something I have asked for."
Chmerkovskiy's suspension was a response to a social media post referencing Will Smith's widely publicized incident at the Oscars. He has since apologized for the post, which was deleted. His absence meant his celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, performed with pro Alan Bersten during "Dedication Night." Chmerkovskiy's suspension was officially lifted on Oct. 21, and he was expected to return to the ballroom for "Horror Movie Night" on Tuesday.