Carrie Ann Inaba Calls for New Lift Rules on 'Dancing With the Stars' After Dispute

Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba has requested that the long-running ballroom competition introduce updated lift rules for future seasons. The proposal follows an on-air judging disagreement that escalated into an off-camera controversy involving professional dancers Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy, resulting in a temporary suspension for Chmerkovskiy.

The dispute originated during the October 13 broadcast after Inaba penalized a samba danced by Johnson and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr. Pointing to an illegal lift, Inaba consulted her notes and read the formal ballroom definition of a lift to justify a point deduction. Johnson expressed confusion regarding the ruling, as the routine's lift had been executed by the supporting background dancers rather than the competing couple.

Tensions escalated when Johnson's husband, fellow show professional Val Chmerkovskiy, publicly defended her on social media. In a post on TikTok, Chmerkovskiy wrote, "You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night," an apparent allusion to Will Smith striking Chris Rock during the 2022 Academy Awards. Following the comment, Inaba raised safety concerns with production officials, prompting an internal review.

Chmerkovskiy subsequently apologized publicly, admitting to poor judgment. Show officials issued him a one-week suspension, leading pro Alan Bersten to step in as the substitute partner for Chmerkovskiy's celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, on Dedication Night. Chmerkovskiy's suspension ended ahead of the October 27 Halloween episode, and reports indicate he is expected to retain his spot on the upcoming live tour that begins in January.

On October 26, Inaba broke her silence about the dispute in an Instagram post's comments section. She explained that she had previously withheld public comment due to professional courtesy toward active competitors and standards and practices protocols that require judges and dancers to remain separated. Inaba also noted that initial headlines failed to capture important nuances of the incident.

Inaba revealed that she and Johnson cleared the air and "hugged it out" following the October 20 broadcast. Describing Johnson as an "absolute professional," Inaba wrote that she reached out after learning Johnson was deeply hurt by the critique, adding that she remains available to discuss the rule and how she enforces it at any point in the future.

Looking forward, Inaba advocated for the series to modernize its regulatory framework before Season 35 concludes and the next cycle begins. She proposed organizing a collaborative meeting between the judging panel and all participating professional dancers to review the history of the lift rule, which she originally established alongside production executives and the late head judge Len Goodman.

Inaba underscored that while the rule's primary goals remain safety and fairness, the show has changed dramatically in terms of format, casting, and audience demographics. By updating the standards through open dialogue, she hopes to foster a clearer mutual understanding between judges, performers, and viewers moving forward.