Replace Carrie Ann Inaba
The Issue
Petition Update — October 2026
Originally created in October 2022, this petition has been updated following the Val Chmerkovskiy controversy and renewed concerns about Carrie Ann Inaba's judging consistency. Potential replacement judges have also been updated to reflect current professional TV availability of DWTS pros.
The demand remains clear: Replace Carrie Ann Inaba
Why?
Carrie Ann has judged Dancing with the Stars since its inception in 2005, but after more than two decades, it's fair to question whether she has the specialized expertise this competition deserves. While she has experience in commercial dance and choreography, she has no documented competitive ballroom background, formal ballroom judging credentials, or ballroom training outside her experience on the show.
This concern isn't new. In 2007, pro Tony Dovolani publicly challenged her ballroom knowledge after she criticized lifts in his routines with Jane Seymour. As part of that challenge, he gave her a ballroom rulebook.
These concerns aren't limited to viewers.
For years, fans, DWTS professionals, and other ballroom dancers have questioned Carrie Ann's technical judgments, scoring consistency, and qualifications to judge ballroom. The fact that these concerns have persisted across multiple generations of contestants and professionals makes them difficult to dismiss as isolated disagreements. We are in the 2026 season 35, and controversies over her scoring, technical deductions, and delivery of feedback continue.
Pattern of questionable judging of women and female athletes
- Simone Biles (2017): Carrie Ann repeatedly criticized Simone's facial expressions, prompting Simone to push back against being expected to smile while performing.
- Kaitlyn Bristowe (2020): Carrie Ann deducted a point when Artem assisted Kaitlyn in a back tuck during their jive, calling it a lift. The decision sparked backlash and questions about her interpretation of the rules, and Kaitlyn became emotional over the criticism.
- Chandler Kinney (2024): Carrie Ann repeatedly scored Chandler lower than Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, giving her 9s when they awarded 10s. A lift deduction in the semifinals also drew criticism.
- Ilona Maher (2024): Carrie Ann gave Ilona's Halloween tango an 8 while the other judges scored it higher. A confusing score change earlier that season added to viewers' concerns.
In a 2025 interview, Carrie Ann acknowledged that criticism of her harsher judging critiques to women was “partly true.” She explained that she sometimes gives women more detailed and frank feedback because she believes she understands them and wants them to reach their potential. But good intentions don't eliminate the concern: women shouldn't have to endure harsher criticism to prove themselves to other women, and every contestant deserves the same fair, consistent standards.
Technical deductions should be consistent and criticism should be constructive and specific.
When the same concerns about the same judge keep resurfacing across decades, it's time for producers and networks to take them seriously.
Derek and Bruno also need to deliver more than just enthusiastic praise and entertaining commentary. Contestants deserve specific feedback on what worked, what needs improvement, and why (a standard many associate with Len Goodman's legacy).
The October 2026 Controversy
The controversy involving Val Chmerkovskiy reignited longstanding questions about judging consistency back into focus. Whatever your opinion is of the controversy, the need for clear rules and equal enforcement remains.
Derek and Bruno, if ever there was a time to worry less about your popularity and stand for the integrity of the competition and your fellow judges, this was it!
It's time for a judging-panel overhaul
The show has relied on the exact same faces for years, even as other reality competitions regularly refresh their coaching and judging lineups. A long-running show should evolve. Familiarity should not take priority over fresh perspectives, technical credibility, or accountability.
We, the fans, call on BBC Studios, ABC, and Disney to replace Carrie Ann Inaba and, preferably, rebuild the entire judging panel with people whose ballroom credentials and professional experience speak for themselves .
Proposed candidates (updated since this petition was originally created in 2022):
- Shirley Ballas — internationally renowned ballroom and Latin champion, coach, and adjudicator.
- Tony Dovolani — accomplished ballroom competitor, champion, and longtime Dancing with the Stars professional.
- Louis van Amstel — internationally accomplished ballroom and Latin dancer, competitor, and choreographer.
- Cheryl Burke — accomplished competitive ballroom dancer and two-time Dancing with the Stars champion.
- Kym Johnson-Herjavec — Australian ballroom champion and two-time Dancing with the Stars winner.
- Anja Imamovic and Kristijan Burazer — professional ballroom dancers, instructors, choreographers, and coaches associated with the K&A DanceSport Team, whose profile identifies them as 18-time national champions and fans of the show. Their competitive and professional experience would bring valuable technical expertise to the panel.
The goal is a panel with genuine technical expertise, consistent standards, and the ability to explain scores in a way contestants (and viewers) can learn from.
This is about ensuring that the people judging these dancers have the qualifications, fairness, and professionalism to do so.
After years of recurring controversy, it's time for change. Replace Carrie Ann Inaba and restore viewers' confidence.
Sign this petition to demand accountability.
5,440
The Issue
Petition Update — October 2026
Originally created in October 2022, this petition has been updated following the Val Chmerkovskiy controversy and renewed concerns about Carrie Ann Inaba's judging consistency. Potential replacement judges have also been updated to reflect current professional TV availability of DWTS pros.
The demand remains clear: Replace Carrie Ann Inaba
Why?
Carrie Ann has judged Dancing with the Stars since its inception in 2005, but after more than two decades, it's fair to question whether she has the specialized expertise this competition deserves. While she has experience in commercial dance and choreography, she has no documented competitive ballroom background, formal ballroom judging credentials, or ballroom training outside her experience on the show.
This concern isn't new. In 2007, pro Tony Dovolani publicly challenged her ballroom knowledge after she criticized lifts in his routines with Jane Seymour. As part of that challenge, he gave her a ballroom rulebook.
These concerns aren't limited to viewers.
For years, fans, DWTS professionals, and other ballroom dancers have questioned Carrie Ann's technical judgments, scoring consistency, and qualifications to judge ballroom. The fact that these concerns have persisted across multiple generations of contestants and professionals makes them difficult to dismiss as isolated disagreements. We are in the 2026 season 35, and controversies over her scoring, technical deductions, and delivery of feedback continue.
Pattern of questionable judging of women and female athletes
- Simone Biles (2017): Carrie Ann repeatedly criticized Simone's facial expressions, prompting Simone to push back against being expected to smile while performing.
- Kaitlyn Bristowe (2020): Carrie Ann deducted a point when Artem assisted Kaitlyn in a back tuck during their jive, calling it a lift. The decision sparked backlash and questions about her interpretation of the rules, and Kaitlyn became emotional over the criticism.
- Chandler Kinney (2024): Carrie Ann repeatedly scored Chandler lower than Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, giving her 9s when they awarded 10s. A lift deduction in the semifinals also drew criticism.
- Ilona Maher (2024): Carrie Ann gave Ilona's Halloween tango an 8 while the other judges scored it higher. A confusing score change earlier that season added to viewers' concerns.
In a 2025 interview, Carrie Ann acknowledged that criticism of her harsher judging critiques to women was “partly true.” She explained that she sometimes gives women more detailed and frank feedback because she believes she understands them and wants them to reach their potential. But good intentions don't eliminate the concern: women shouldn't have to endure harsher criticism to prove themselves to other women, and every contestant deserves the same fair, consistent standards.
Technical deductions should be consistent and criticism should be constructive and specific.
When the same concerns about the same judge keep resurfacing across decades, it's time for producers and networks to take them seriously.
Derek and Bruno also need to deliver more than just enthusiastic praise and entertaining commentary. Contestants deserve specific feedback on what worked, what needs improvement, and why (a standard many associate with Len Goodman's legacy).
The October 2026 Controversy
The controversy involving Val Chmerkovskiy reignited longstanding questions about judging consistency back into focus. Whatever your opinion is of the controversy, the need for clear rules and equal enforcement remains.
Derek and Bruno, if ever there was a time to worry less about your popularity and stand for the integrity of the competition and your fellow judges, this was it!
It's time for a judging-panel overhaul
The show has relied on the exact same faces for years, even as other reality competitions regularly refresh their coaching and judging lineups. A long-running show should evolve. Familiarity should not take priority over fresh perspectives, technical credibility, or accountability.
We, the fans, call on BBC Studios, ABC, and Disney to replace Carrie Ann Inaba and, preferably, rebuild the entire judging panel with people whose ballroom credentials and professional experience speak for themselves .
Proposed candidates (updated since this petition was originally created in 2022):
- Shirley Ballas — internationally renowned ballroom and Latin champion, coach, and adjudicator.
- Tony Dovolani — accomplished ballroom competitor, champion, and longtime Dancing with the Stars professional.
- Louis van Amstel — internationally accomplished ballroom and Latin dancer, competitor, and choreographer.
- Cheryl Burke — accomplished competitive ballroom dancer and two-time Dancing with the Stars champion.
- Kym Johnson-Herjavec — Australian ballroom champion and two-time Dancing with the Stars winner.
- Anja Imamovic and Kristijan Burazer — professional ballroom dancers, instructors, choreographers, and coaches associated with the K&A DanceSport Team, whose profile identifies them as 18-time national champions and fans of the show. Their competitive and professional experience would bring valuable technical expertise to the panel.
The goal is a panel with genuine technical expertise, consistent standards, and the ability to explain scores in a way contestants (and viewers) can learn from.
This is about ensuring that the people judging these dancers have the qualifications, fairness, and professionalism to do so.
After years of recurring controversy, it's time for change. Replace Carrie Ann Inaba and restore viewers' confidence.
Sign this petition to demand accountability.
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Petition created on October 9, 2022