Carrie Ann Inaba fights back against DWTS judges controversy

Oct 27, 2011 10:31 AM by Kim Grundy

Posted in Entertainment / Celebrity Gossip

Carrie Ann Inaba
Defends Len And Bruno

Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba is fighting back after Chaz Bono and Maksim had some unkind words for her fellow judges.

Carrie Ann Inaba DWTS judge

Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba is used to judging contestants, but she is having a difficult time when she and her fellow judges, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli, are the ones being judged.

Recently-eliminated contestant Chaz Bono went on Good Morning America and said that overweight men are treated differently on the show and he was hurt when Tonioli called him, "a basketball, a penguin, an Ewok."

While Inaba admitted there were some "sensitive issues" on this year's DWTS, she told Access Hollywood that his comments were not meant to be "negative or derogatory" and the judges have been "pretty kind" this year.

"The scoring has to do with what they're doing dance-wise. We are able to separate the two," she said.

She also defended Goodman on his war of words with dancing pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who lashed out at the judge after he told them that his rumba with Hope Solo was the worst dance of the season. Maskim also declared that DWTS was "his show." Inaba admits it was a "very awkward moment… it was just taken the wrong way."

Inaba also took to her Facebook to defend the judges, writing:

"Just want to send out RESPECT and LOVE to everyone who works on #DWTS. It's a group effort through and through. I'm sorry for the disrespect all our crew and staff were shown last night. A Television Show is made by not only the people ON CAMERA but the exceptional people who are behind the scenes, making everything just right so that when on camera talent steps on to the stage, it's safe and sound… and just right. Thank you to everyone who works on #DWTS!"

Photo: WENN

Tags: carrie ann inaba chaz bono dancing with the stars maksim chmerkovskiy

Comments

Comments on "Carrie Ann Inaba fights back against DWTS judges controversy"

I think both sides are in error here. This is not the first time that Bruno has put someone down by calling them some name not relative to critiquing their dance. Len has it in for Maks and this has carried over from past seasons. They need to sit down and work things out. Len's bias against Maks is obvious to me as well as his favoring other pro dancers. Maks apologized for his "my show" remark but his other points are true and right now there is bias in the judging. True Hope is not a great dancer but that's on her not Maks. They need to do something about the crowd too they won't let Len speak when he is trying to offer something constructive even though negative. Maks shouldn't egg on the audience either. Tom B. treats it all as funny but needs to take more control. Finally the show is scraping the bottom of the barrel for "stars", the Kardashians are not stars, the one gal's claim to fame, George Clooney's ex-girlfriend. Kudos to Chaz for the way he handled everything, he took a lot of abuse with a lot of grace. All in all Carrie Ann I think you the judges need to look at yourselves.

I think the judges are not crituqing by calling names and such, I don't see this as giving advice. I have not watched as much this year, because I don't believe in humulating someone that has worked hard. There are better ways