What was supposed to be one of the most emotional and inspiring nights of Dancing With the Stars quickly spiraled into chaos — and now, the ballroom is in full-blown meltdown. Multiple insiders confirm that professional dancer Pasha Pashkov confronted judge Carrie Ann Inaba backstage, accusing her of “unforgivable bias” during the show’s much-anticipated Dedication Night.
According to eyewitnesses, the heated exchange unfolded moments after Pasha and his celebrity partner received what he considered a “deeply unfair score.” Still shaking from the emotional weight of the performance, Pasha reportedly demanded to know why Carrie’s critique felt “more personal than professional.” The room fell silent as the confrontation escalated — and within seconds, he stormed offstage in tears.
“It wasn’t judging — it was humiliation,” one insider revealed. “You could see it in his face. He felt completely blindsided and disrespected in front of millions of viewers.” The moment, which wasn’t captured on camera, has since become the talk of the cast and crew — with whispers that this may be one of the most serious behind-the-scenes conflicts in DWTS history.
Carrie Ann, known for her fiery yet passionate judging style, allegedly stood her ground and refused to apologize. “I judge what I see,” she reportedly said, defending her scoring as fair and consistent. But that explanation didn’t satisfy everyone — especially not Pasha’s fellow pros, many of whom were seen consoling him after the show. “It wasn’t just about the score,” another source said. “It was about respect.”
Backstage, the tension reached a boiling point as other cast members began to take sides. Some rallied behind Carrie, praising her commitment to honesty, while others sided with Pasha, calling the night’s judging “emotionally tone-deaf.” Producers were eventually forced to step in and mediate before the argument spilled onto social media.
Now, reports suggest that higher-ups at ABC are closely monitoring the situation, worried that the fallout could overshadow the rest of the season. “This show hasn’t seen tension like this in years,” one insider admitted. “Everyone’s walking on eggshells — no one wants to say the wrong thing and make it worse.”
Fans watching from home have also noticed the shift. Comments across platforms point to visible awkwardness during the closing moments of the live broadcast, with many speculating that something major had happened off-camera. “You could feel the tension,” one viewer tweeted. “The smiles didn’t reach their eyes.”
As for Pasha, sources say he’s “heartbroken but determined” to keep dancing — though he’s reportedly considering speaking out publicly if things don’t change. “He’s ready to burn it all down if the truth doesn’t come out,” a crew member confessed.
For now, the ballroom may sparkle on the outside — but behind the glitter, it’s war. And as emotions boil over, one thing’s for sure: Dancing With the Stars has never been this dramatic.
