Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba is clearing the air after recent drama with pro Jenna Johnson — and proposing a new rule for lifts.
“I have not spoke about what happened because of professional courtesy for those who are still competing, and we actually have standards and practices that keep us separated. But I think a part of this ‘headline’ has missed a few important parts of what happened,” Inaba, 58, wrote in the comments section of a recent Instagram post with photos from season 35’s Dedication Night. “I think it’s important for everyone to know that Jenna and I hugged it out after the Super Bowl show. Jenna was an absolute professional about it, and two women worked through the moment.”
Inaba continued, “It came to my attention later that Jenna was deeply hurt. So I also offered to speak with her at anytime. I have also offered to discuss the lift rule and how I enforce it. @sharnaburgess made a great video explaining lifts, assists and which dances allow and don’t allow them.”
As DWTS fans know, tensions arose after Super Bowl Night on October 13 when Inaba called out an illegal lift in Johnson’s samba with partner Harry Shum Jr. During the live episode, Johnson, 32, expressed her surprise over the critique, but she also noted she respected Inaba’s opinion as a judge.
Johnson’s husband, Val Chmerkovskiy, later entered the chat with a controversial remark. In a social media upload that was deleted soon after, Chmerkovskiy, 40, said he almost went “Fresh Prince” in the DWTS ballroom, referring to when Will Smith confronted Chris Rock and slapped him on stage at the 2022 Oscars over a joke made about Jada Pinkett Smith.
Chmerkovskiy was later benched from the Dedication Night episode on October 20, with his partner, Jenna Dewan, being joined by Alan Bersten. (No eliminations took place that night, and Chmerkovskiy will return for Horror Movie Night on Tuesday, October 27.)
In her Instagram post, Inaba hinted that she has a new idea for how lifts could be judged on the show going forward.
“In addition, I think in the future, a new lift rule should be created for next season,” she wrote. “I think a session of with all the dancers and the judges in a room together to discuss the history of how and why Len Goodman, our original producers and I defined the lift rule and what the purpose is which is safety and fairness.”
She explained, “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. 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.”
While Johnson has remained relatively quiet about the situation post-Super Bowl Night, Chmerkovskiy previously apologized to Inaba for his behavior.
“I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for my recent post,” he wrote in an Instagram Story earlier this month. “I have reached out to Carrie Ann to apologize directly and personally and I also want to apologize publicly as I understand my words affect so many outside our internal DWTS family. I should never have made the reference that I did and I deeply regret it. I recognize that I am in a fortunate position to have a platform and to be a role model to some, and I need to treat that with more care by actively pausing to think before I post to ensure what I am sharing aligns with who I am, and who I want to be for you all.”
He added, “I am truly sorry to Carrie Ann, and everyone I hurt with my careless post. I will do better moving forward. ❤️.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
