“Dancing with the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba is proving she can take criticism — and turn it into content.
After facing online backlash for her scoring on the show, the 57-year-old judge responded with humor on Oct. 22, posting a playful Instagram video of herself lip-syncing to Taylor Swift’s “Actually Romantic.” While applying lip gloss, Inaba mouthed the lyrics, “It’s actually sweet / All the time you’ve spent on me. It’s honestly wild / All the effort you’ve put in.”
Fans immediately caught on to the message — and so did co-host Julianne Hough, who commented, “THIS!!!!” Inaba replied, “Love u. I can’t wait for our catch up!” The cheeky post reportedly came just days after viewers accused her of favoring certain contestants on the Oct. 14 episode. In response to one critic, she previously reminded fans that it’s “okay to disagree,” adding, “That’s what makes our show great. We want you to vote for what you love and believe in.”
From Criticism to Comebacks on the Dance Floor
The controversy began after Inaba told “Boy Meets World” alum Danielle Fishel and her pro partner Pasha Pashkov that their dances were starting to look too similar during the Oct. 14 “Dedication Night.” Her feedback drew boos from the audience and pushback from Pashkov, who later called the comment “unfair,” explaining that the jive and quickstep are naturally alike in style, per E! News.
But just one week later, Fishel and Pashkov proved that critique can spark growth. On the Oct. 21 “Wicked Night” episode, the pair impressed with an Argentine tango to “No Good Deed.” Fishel said she appreciated Inaba’s honesty, calling it “the fire under my butt that I needed,” per TV Insider.
Even fellow pros have publicly backed Inaba, noting that judging live television is no easy task. Pashkov told E! News that “it takes courage” to deliver critiques in front of millions of viewers, while others praised her for maintaining fairness and professionalism throughout the competition.
Grace Under Pressure
ABCInaba has long been known for her composure in the face of fan debate, but she’s also been open about the challenges behind it. Earlier this month, she shared an emotional post after gymnast Jordan Chiles’ DWTS performance to Doechii’s “Anxiety,” thanking her for addressing mental health through dance.
“Anxiety is real. Many people deal with anxiety, myself included,” Inaba wrote on Instagram, explaining that she turned to dance as a form of healing. She revealed that when she stopped dancing daily due to injuries, her anxiety worsened and even made live television difficult in her early years on the show. “For the first 10 or so seasons of DWTS, I would have such bad anxiety I would throw up right before we walked to stage,” she admitted.
Inaba said years of therapy, acupuncture, and mindfulness helped her overcome those struggles. “I am so grateful to all those who have helped me with my anxiety,” she added.
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