“Dancing with the Stars” Judge Faces Backlash Over Critique of Robert Irwin
LOS ANGELES, CA – May 28, 2024 – A tense moment unfolded during Tuesday’s “Dancing with the Stars” finale as judge Carrie Inaba received audible boos from the audience following a critical remark aimed at frontrunner Robert Irwin and his partner Witney Carson.The incident occurred before Irwin and Carson ultimately received a near-perfect score of 29 out of 30, with Inaba delivering the sole dissenting score of 9.
Inaba prefaced her critique by stating her intention was to offer constructive feedback ahead of the final rounds of competition, emphasizing that Irwin and Carson “don’t deserve” negative comments but that she felt compelled to address a concern. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she pleaded, according to Entertainment Weekly. “But look, this trophy is what we are competing for tonight. I don’t want to give it to anybody who doesn’t absolutely deserve it.” She clarified, “I just have to point it out now. There are two more rounds of competition. I’m pointing it out. You know I love you!”
The situation escalated to the point where Alfonso Ribeiro was moved from the judges’ panel to the skybox to allow Irwin and Carson a private debrief with cohost Julianne Hough,preventing them from hearing Inaba’s full critique and potentially making adjustments. prior to the scores, Irwin expressed gratitude for Carson’s support, stating, “Coming into this, dance was just the furthest thing from what I’m used to. But honestly, I know it’s the last show, so I just have to say, Witney has been the person who’s believed in me every step of the way, trusted me.” He also acknowledged the strong women in his life, including his mother, sister, and Carson, noting, “The most crucial people are strong and powerful mothers.”
The finale features Irwin competing against influencer Alix Earle, actress Elaine Hendrix, Olympian Jordan Chiles, and content creator Dylan Efron.Earle and Hendrix have already achieved perfect scores for their “Judges choice” dances,making Season 34 a highly competitive race to the finish. The season has been marked by surprising eliminations,disagreements among the judges,and emotional moments from the contestants.
