Carrie Ann Inaba publicly addresses recent “Dancing With the Stars” controversy after pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy is suspended. Multiple outlets report that Inaba says she has been holding back out of “professional courtesy,” and she links her remarks to what she frames as show standards and practices around ballroom lifts.
Inaba also calls for changes to competition rules, specifically requesting a “new lift rule” for next season. Coverage further notes that her comments reference earlier on-air remarks made during an October 13 episode, including her calling out pro dancer Jenna Johnson for a lift. Outlets differ mainly in what they foreground: some emphasize the judge’s request for rule changes, while others focus on timing related to Chmerkovskiy’s return.
Overall, the reporting agrees that Inaba is breaking her silence on the suspension-related drama and urging a rule adjustment, with the framing shaped by each outlet’s emphasis rather than major differences in core claims.
