Carrie Ann Inaba is the only female judge on “Dancing With the Stars,” which she says is extremely challenging.
When speaking at the 2023 Variety Women Of Reality TV event, the 55-year-old admitted that she has to “fight harder” for her opinion due to the fact that she is the only female judge on the reality show. In fact, it’s been so hard at times that she has thought about quitting the show.
Carrie Ann Inaba Opens Up About Her ‘DWTS’ Experience
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“Yes, there have been times when I have almost walked away,” she revealed. “As the only female judge for most of the seasons, I get a lot more hate than the men do and people doubt what I say. Oh I’m going to get emotional.”
“I’m the judge who cries,” Inaba added, referring to her emotions when at the judge’s table. “Yes that’s true, but it’s also because I feel like I have to fight harder for my opinion to be honored.”
She then thanked the organizers for the event as it is a space where “the women in this business” can have their moment.
Carrie Ann Inaba got emotional talking about how people treat her as the only female judge on #DWTS: “I have to fight harder for my opinion to be honored.” | Variety #WomenOfReality presented by @DIRECTV pic.twitter.com/pTM1YAE94p
— Variety (@Variety) November 30, 2023
“We’re all carrying a load that’s a little different and I feel it’s such an honor that you guys see that and have honored it,” she added.
After the event, she spoke to PEOPLE, stating that those who work in reality television are not taken seriously.
“People who work in reality television are not often appreciated for what we do,” Inaba told the outlet. “And it’s been the world that I’ve been working in for a long time as a choreographer, as a staging director and then now as an on-camera person, as a judge.”
Carre Ann Inaba Receives Backlash From ‘DWTS’ Fans
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After Tuesday’s episode, fans flooded the “Dancing With the Stars” Instagram page to bash Carrie Ann Inaba for not giving Ariana Madix the score she deserved.
“I honestly don’t know what more Ariana can do to get a 10 from Carrie Ann….. I really don’t. I’m baffled,” one fan wrote on a photo of Madix and her partner on Instagram.
“CARRIE ANN LITERALLY ROBBED THEM OF A PERFECT SCORE. THEY DESERVED ALL 10S. I’M SO FRUSTRATED,” someone else chimed in as one user stated, “I’m sorry but this partnership & constant amazing choreography is TOP TIER!!!!!! They truly leave it all out on the dance floor week by week & it shows!!”
Another commented, “I’m Sorry but EVERY SINGLE WEEK, this girl comes out and smashed it, with performance and content. She’s THE BEST but yet her scores don’t reflect it. It’s unfortunate .”
The following couples are still fighting for the Mirror Ball Trophy as the show enters the semi-finals:
Marvel actress Xochitl Gomez with partner Val Chmerkovskiy.
‘How I Met Your Mother’ actress Alyson Hannigan with partner Sasha Farber.
‘The Bachelorette’ star Charity Lawson with partner Artem Chigvintsev.
‘Vanderpump Rules’ star Ariana Madix with partner Pasha Pashkov.
Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz with partner Daniella Karagach
‘The Brady Bunch’ actor Barry Williams with partner Peta Murgatroyd.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC and Disney+. The episode will be available the next day on Hulu.