Carrie Ann Inaba Addresses Accusations of Being More Critical Towards Female Contestants on DWTS
Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba addresses critics who believe she is tougher on the female celebrity contestants when scoring them.
“I think that is somewhat accurate. As the only woman on the panel, I relate to being a woman, so I tend to focus on details in my observations,” Inaba, 57, told Variety in an interview published on Tuesday, November 11. “Because I have such strong support for women, I make sure to share what I see since they are putting in so much effort. I feel responsible to point out if I sense someone hasn’t wholly committed, as I don’t want them to leave with any regrets.”
Inaba has been scoring the celebrity contestants on ABC’s successful competition series for 34 seasons. As she continues to provide feedback along with Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, she acknowledges that she doesn’t always get her evaluations right.
“None of us are ever 100 percent accurate. But I am willing to take that risk and provide feedback that allows them to improve,” Inaba shared. “When I communicate woman to woman, I might come across as more straightforward. I believe women can be tougher than men in some aspects. I interact with my girlfriends in a similar way — very direct and to the point, because I recognize they desire truthful input. There is some truth in their claims, but it’s not entirely accurate.”
While Inaba acknowledges that she sometimes reviews the feedback she receives and “always” considers it, she finds it “very ironic” that some of her most vocal critics are women themselves.
“I revisit my comments and try to understand the perception,” she said. “However, I believe that, generally, people are harsher on women. Ironically, they accuse me of being tougher on women while they themselves are being tougher on a woman.”
One standout moment from season 34 of Dancing With the Stars occurred when the veteran judge was met with boos from the audience while giving feedback to Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov on Dedication Night.
Inaba later expressed regret, offering her apologies if Fishel, 44, felt “hurt” by her comments. The Boy Meets World actress subsequently clarified she was “not.”
“People held me responsible for Danielle Fishel leaving, and I needed to analyze the scores,” Inaba remarked. “My scores were not the lowest. That reflects the fans’ passion for Danielle, which I see as a positive. If they criticize me for scoring Whitney [Leavitt] and Mark BallasAlix Earle. There’s always a silver lining, even in negative remarks.”
As the show gets ready to commemorate its 20th Birthday Party episode on Tuesday, Inaba is determined to maintain an upbeat perspective. Despite facing backlash over some of her scores, she declares this season as her favorite.
“This newfound energy and the fresh audience that has joined us, bringing passion and diverse views,” she said. “I love the new TikTok generation that has transformed the landscape. It’s incredibly exciting. From the very beginning, it’s been a privilege, as dance is my life. I’ve devoted my entire career to dance and live television.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
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