A massive wave of outrage has exploded across the Dancing with the Stars fandom after judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s reaction to Robert Irwin’s championship win went viral. The controversy began the moment Robert’s name was announced as the winner. As the ballroom erupted with cheers, cameras cut to Carrie Ann — and instead of excitement, viewers saw a straight, emotionless expression.
Within seconds, screenshots of her reaction were all over social media. Fans questioned whether she was upset, disappointed, or simply refusing to acknowledge the moment. “Everyone else was celebrating, and she looked like she was at a funeral,” one viewer wrote in a post that has now been shared thousands of times.
But what truly ignited the backlash were her post-finale comments.
During a brief interview, Carrie Ann was asked about Robert’s win. Her response was short — but enough to infuriate tens of thousands of fans. “We also had other potentials…” she said, a remark many interpreted as dismissive, undermining, and even disrespectful to Robert’s victory.
Clips of that moment are now spreading rapidly, with fans accusing her of downplaying a historic achievement. The comments section under the interview has been flooded with messages calling her “unprofessional,” “biased,” and “out of touch.”
Supporters of Robert Irwin are especially furious. Many pointed out how he performed with no dance background, overcame injuries, delivered emotional storytelling, and consistently grew week after week — all elements they believe deserved full celebration from every judge.
What’s fueling the anger even more is a second clip now making the rounds. In it, Carrie Ann appears to smile and applaud enthusiastically when another finalist is mentioned, moments after showing no reaction to Robert’s win. This contrast has become a core argument in the growing claims of “favoritism” and “double standards.”
Hashtags like #FireCarrieAnn and #RespectRobertIrwin are trending worldwide. Some fans are even urging ABC to remove her from the judging panel, saying the show needs “fresh, unbiased energy” moving forward.
So far, Carrie Ann has not addressed the controversy directly, and ABC has remained silent as the backlash intensifies.
For now, what should have been a night of pure celebration for Robert Irwin has become the center of one of the biggest DWTS debates in recent years — all sparked by a single look and a few pointed words that fans won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
