Carrie Ann Inaba Speaks Out About Getting 'Bullied' By DWTS Fans
Carrie Ann Inaba is always going to speak her mind, whether she's judging celebrities on Dancing with the Stars or discussing hot topics of the day on The Talk. While she may not be quite as harsh as some of the other judges who have graced the show — here's looking at you, Len Goodman — she has never shied away from pointed criticism. Case in point? When Inaba critiqued former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe during Season 29 of the show, docking points for what Inaba deemed an illegal lift.
Bristowe herself said that she felt some of the criticism she received during her season felt unfair, expressing on the show (via US Weekly) "I feel like I'm never going to be good enough for what they hold me to." Many Twitter user seemingly agreed with Bristowe and one user went so far as to suggest that the issues between the judge and contestant were personal because Inaba and Bristowe's partner, Artem Chigvintsev, were formerly an item.
Chigvintsev also suggested that the critiques were personal, telling Entertainment Tonight that he feels like there are "different expectations" when it comes to him as opposed to the other dancers. However, Inaba had no patience for suggestions like that, and made her displeasure with the online mob clear during an episode of The Talk.
Carrie Ann Inaba says bullying her won't change anything
Every season as Dancing with the Stars progresses, the competition heats up and fans get more and more protective of their faves. Carrie Ann Inaba, however, says that fans are crossing the line of defending their favorite celebrity dancers into straight-up bullying. "Right about this time is when people start to bully me because of the way I judge people," Inaba said on The Talk (via Page Six). "I can't believe it still happens as adults."
Inaba had a message for the people sharing hateful comments online: "It doesn't make me change the way I judge... It only makes me stand stronger in my convictions and what I believe in." Inaba is a dancer herself, and said that she knows errors when she sees them. "I judge the way I judge from my background. That is my job to do it and I will always do it based on my own conscience." People can tweet all they want, but expect Inaba to take it with a grain of salt.