Ballroom elegance only goes so far on “Dancing With the Stars.” While the sequins are always sparkling and the smiles stay plastered on, the “DWTS” judges’ table and rehearsal rooms have delivered some truly iconic clapbacks over the years. From subtle shade to full-on verbal mic drops, these moments prove that even with the ballroom shoes on, the gloves can still come off. We compiled a list of some of the best ballroom clapbacks below in our “Dancing With the Stars” spoilers.
1. Maks Chmerkovskiy’s Judges Table Pushback
If there was ever a pro dancer who delivered a clapback, it had to be Maks Chmerkovskiy. He was known for his fiery personality, and he would frequently challenge the judges when he felt his partner was unfairly criticized.
His sharp responses were often delivered mid-broadcast. These moments would become must-watch moments. It was nice to see Maks defend his partners, but fans were often torn on his clapbacks. Regardless, it always brought reality-TV-level confrontations to the ballroom floor.
2. No Smiling For Simone Biles
Simone Biles was 20 years old when she was a contestant on season 24 of the show. After one of her performances, host Tom Bergeron commented on her lack of smiling after some of the critiques from the judges. In the awkward moment, Simone clapped back with the perfect response: “Smiling doesn’t win you gold medals.” And mic drop!
3. Cloris Leachman Clap Back
It all seemed to be in good fun for Cloris Leachman, but she also seemed to be fed up with the “DWTS” judges during season 7 of the show. After one of her routines, she claps back at the judges for telling her there was no technique in the performance. She questioned this critique, as she had the crowd all the way behind her!
4. Carrie Ann Inaba vs. Len Goodman’s “Tone”
Carrie Ann Inaba has never been shy about defending her critiques. This was especially true when Len Goodman gave his blunt critiques, which may have rubbed contestants the wrong way.
In several of the live shows, Inaba would calmly, but firmly, push back. She would remind Len that emotional expression mattered just as much as technical precision. While the exchanges were polite, the tension was undeniable. It always gave fans that classic judge-on-judge drama.
5. Val Defends His Wife
While it may not have been on the show, this still deserves a spot on the list. During season 33, pro dancer Jenna Johnson won the Mirrorball Trophy with her partner, Joey Graziadei. However, during the finale night performances, Carrie Ann gave some questionable feedback on the routine.
Turns out, Val may not have been dancing in the finale, but he wasn’t going to let it slide. He went to social media to defend his wife, which had fans admiring him for standing strong for his wife.
Like the clapbacks or not, they definitely show that the person cares. What are some of your favorite clapbacks from “Dancing With the Stars” over the years?
