Carrie Ann Inaba, a mainstay on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ has faced renewed scrutiny over her judging style, particularly her perceived toughness toward female contestants. In an interview with Variety, Inaba admitted that she is harder on women competing on the show, a fact that has sparked fan theories and criticism. She defended her approach, stating that it is driven by a desire to push women to their full potential and that she believes they are often held to higher standards than men. ‘I support women so much, I let them know what I see because they are working so hard,’ Inaba explained. ‘I always feel it’s my responsibility if I sense somebody hasn’t given it their all because I don’t want them to walk away with regret.’
While some fans have criticized Inaba for being overly harsh on women, others have praised her for being transparent and direct. Inaba acknowledged that her approach may come across as blunt, even to the point of being ‘frank’ in her critiques. ‘This is how I speak with my girlfriends — very blunt and to the point, because I know they want the information,’ she said. She also noted that she is willing to take the risk of being perceived as more critical of women because she believes it is necessary for their growth.
Despite the controversy, Inaba has not wavered in her approach. Over the past 20 years, she has developed a thick skin for the online backlash that often follows her decisions on the show. ‘By doing that, it makes the online hate and vitriol that comes at me feel less like it can hurt me,’ she said. ‘Because I’m very true to myself, it doesn’t matter as much what everybody else is saying about me.’ Inaba also acknowledged that the negative reactions from fans have left her feeling ‘afraid’ at times, as she described feeling ‘attacked’ by some of their comments. However, she has learned to channel that energy into her work, stating that her authenticity helps her remain grounded in the face of criticism.