Carrie Ann Inaba has found herself at the center of a spiraling controversy — one that’s thrown the Dancing With the Stars judging panel into chaos. What started as an attempt to smooth things over has now escalated into full-blown fan fury, with many viewers calling for her immediate removal from the show.
The firestorm began after Carrie Ann’s critique of contestant Danielle Fishel during last week’s live performance. While the comments were meant to be constructive, fans say they crossed a clear line into body-shaming, leaving Danielle visibly emotional on stage. Viewers took to social media in outrage, demanding accountability for what they called “disrespectful and damaging behavior.”
In response, Carrie Ann issued a public apology — but instead of cooling the flames, it made them explode. Her carefully worded statement was slammed by fans as “insincere,” “defensive,” and “more focused on saving her reputation than sincerely apologizing to Danielle.”
The backlash only intensified as DWTS viewers dissected her exact phrasing. “This isn’t accountability,” one fan tweeted. “This is damage control.” The comment has since gone viral — and it’s far from the only one.
Danielle, known for her grace and vulnerability on the show, has remained mostly silent — but insiders say she was “deeply hurt” by Inaba’s remarks. Behind the scenes, sources claim DWTS producers were “caught off guard” by how quickly the situation escalated.
Now, petitions demanding Carrie Ann’s removal are circulating online, gaining thousands of signatures within hours. The hashtag #RemoveCarrieAnn even trended on X (formerly Twitter), with fans arguing that the judge’s comments are part of a larger pattern of insensitive behavior.
As pressure mounts, ABC has yet to release a statement — but insiders say the network is monitoring the situation “very closely.” With the show’s reputation on the line, a decision could come sooner than anyone expects.
For now, one thing is clear: what was meant to be a simple apology has ignited a reckoning — and Carrie Ann may be dancing her last dance at the judge’s table.
