What did val chmerkovskiy say about carrie ann

On 15 October 2026, professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy publicly addressed his ongoing professional dynamic with Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba. During a candid interview regarding the current season's scoring controversies, Chmerkovskiy expressed that while he holds deep respect for Inaba’s extensive experience in the industry, he occasionally finds her critiques to be inconsistent with the technical standards he emphasizes in his choreography. Chmerkovskiy noted that the tension between them is not personal but rather a fundamental disagreement on the balance between artistic performance and strict technical execution. He emphasized that as a competitor, he feels a responsibility to advocate for his partners when he believes the judging criteria are applied unevenly. Despite these public disagreements, Chmerkovskiy clarified that he values the constructive feedback Inaba provides, even when he vehemently disagrees with her scores. He concluded by stating that their professional friction is a natural byproduct of the high-stakes environment of the competition, where both parties are deeply passionate about maintaining the integrity of ballroom dance.