DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba makes controversial comment about contestant partnership
During a "Grammy Night" episode of Dancing With the Stars, judge Carrie Ann Inaba compared a contestant pair’s on-stage intimacy to a sister-to-lover scenario, prompting reactions from fellow judges and viewers.
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba sparked controversy on Tuesday’s "Grammy Night" episode of Dancing With the Stars when she remarked, "Turning your sister into your lover for one night is all good!" while critiquing the Argentine tango performed by two-time Paralympian Ezra Frech and professional dancer Daniella Karagach. The pair, who have described their bond as "brother-sister-like" throughout the season, received a 27 out of 30 from the judges and advanced to the semifinals.
Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro responded, "Sister to lover, that’s awkward," and judge Derek Hough added, "Tell me about it, that was weird," before the discussion moved on. The comment generated a wave of criticism on social media, with users calling the analogy inappropriate and unrelated to the show’s context.
The episode also featured performances set to Grammy-winning songs, as noted in an ABC press release, and saw the elimination of Jenna Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy. Dewan said after her exit, "I had a great time and I loved getting to share that with the world. Honestly, all love."