Dancing With the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy is coming to wife and fellow pro Jenna Johnson’s defense after her lift debate with judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
“Puts some respect on her name,” Chmerkovskiy, 40, wrote in the comments of a TikTok video of Johnson, 32, and partner Harry Shum Jr. receiving their scores during the Tuesday, October 13, episode. “She’s trippin talking to her like that.”
Johnson and Shum, 44, went all out for their samba to Usher’s “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris on Tuesday. While fans were impressed with the performance, the judges had some critiques.
“If that was a halftime show — amazing, I loved every minute of it,” Inaba, 58, said. “But it’s a samba. … And I think you need to put more content in your dances. Especially because [Harry’s] so good, I want to see you challenge yourself a little bit more in the vein of what we’re looking for. And there was a lift.”
Johnson appeared surprised by the feedback, asking, “A lift?” Inaba subsequently read the definition of a lift from a sheet of paper.
“A lift is — I just need to say it — any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner,” she said. “Yeah. Lift.”
As the duo received their scores, cohost Julianne Hough asked Johnson for her reaction to Inaba’s comments.
“I totally understand,” Johnson said. “I thought it was if you lifted your partner, but totally hear Carrie Ann. I will take it.”
The pair were ultimately safe from elimination after earning a 33 out of 40 from Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli and guest judge Joe Buck. (Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson went home on Tuesday.)
After the episode, Johnson weighed in on a separate TikTok video recapping her exchange with Inaba.
“But I didn’t lift him 🤧,” she wrote in the comments section, while Chmerkovskiy added, “By that definition we did a lift.” (Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Dewan tied for the highest score of the night after performing a paso doble to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.”)
Speaking with Extra after the show, Johnson shared that she “would never do something intentionally” in her choreography that “would break the rules.”
“I like to take risks, but I also love rules,” she explained. “And I said that to [Carrie Ann] afterwards; I went up to her … so I hear and respect the judges, absolutely.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
