Witney Carson is making it clear that she has no intention of walking back her defense of Guillermo Rodriguez.
The Dancing With the Stars professional publicly disagreed with Carrie Ann Inaba after the judge questioned Guillermo’s energy during Mariah Carey Night — and Witney has now doubled down on exactly what she said.
The controversy began after Guillermo and Witney performed a Samba to Mariah Carey’s “Obsessed.”
The routine earned only 13 out of 30, placing them at the bottom of the leaderboard once again.
But Carrie Ann’s comments generated considerably more attention than the score itself.
After the dance, Carrie Ann questioned where Guillermo’s usual joy had gone and suggested that he appeared to be “dimming” the natural light and personality that had helped make him such a fan favorite.
The ballroom audience immediately reacted with loud boos.
Carrie Ann explained that she wasn’t trying to tear Guillermo down.
Instead, she said she wanted him to continue showing the personality and happiness that audiences had connected with throughout the competition.
Witney, however, believed the criticism misunderstood what Guillermo was actually trying to do during the performance.
She explained that “Obsessed” called for a more dramatic, diva-like character and that Guillermo’s serious expression was intentional rather than evidence that his enthusiasm had disappeared.
“I disagree completely,” Witney said afterward, adding that she believed much of the audience would disagree as well.
In another interview, Witney became even more direct.
She described Carrie Ann’s remark as “out of pocket” and insisted that Guillermo’s personality doesn’t disappear simply because he performs a different character for one dance.
“No matter what Guillermo does, his light will always shine,” Witney said.
And Witney didn’t stop there.
After the comments began circulating online, she returned to social media with what appeared to be an unmistakable response to the controversy.
Witney posted video of herself and Guillermo back inside the rehearsal studio, smiling and dancing together.
Across the clip, she wrote that Guillermo’s light could never be dimmed.
Then came an even more pointed message.
Witney shared a screenshot containing her earlier statement that Guillermo’s light would always shine.
Underneath it, she added just four words:
“I said what I said.”
The post made it clear that Witney wasn’t reconsidering her criticism of Carrie Ann.
If anything, she appeared even more determined to publicly stand behind her celebrity partner as discussion around his treatment by the judges continued.
Guillermo himself has taken a much calmer approach.
Rather than criticizing Carrie Ann, he admitted that the Samba had been difficult, acknowledged that he had a large number of steps to remember and simply said he had done his best.
He also expressed gratitude for the viewers who continue supporting him and Witney despite their low judges’ scores.
That viewer support has become one of the biggest stories of Season 35.
Guillermo has repeatedly finished near or at the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard, yet the public vote has continued pushing him into another week.
Witney believes that connection proves Carrie Ann’s concern about Guillermo losing his spark doesn’t match what viewers are seeing.
She pointed directly to their continued survival as evidence that audiences still connect with him.
The disagreement doesn’t necessarily mean there is a personal feud between Witney and Carrie Ann.
Judges and professional dancers frequently see performances differently, and Carrie Ann framed her original criticism as encouragement rather than an attack.
But Witney clearly believes this particular critique crossed a line.
And after initially calling it “out of pocket,” she has now made it impossible to mistake where she stands.
Guillermo Rodriguez may continue receiving some of Season 35’s lowest judges’ scores.
But as they prepare for Super Bowl Night, his professional partner is standing firmly beside him.
And Witney Carson’s latest message suggests that when it comes to defending Guillermo, she isn’t backing down:
She said what she said.
