‘Dancing With the Stars’: Witney Carson Reacts to Carrie Ann Inaba’s Criticism
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What To Know
- Carrie Ann Inaba critiqued Guillermo Rodriguez for not smiling during his October 6 Dancing With the Stars performance.
- In an interview with TV Insider, Witney Carson called out the judge’s comment and explained Rodriguez’s more serious expression.
- Carson and Rodriguez stayed in the competition, despite having the lowest scores of the night.
Guillermo Rodriguez is the people’s prince in Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars, but he’s been on the receiving end of criticism from the judges for his actual dance skills. On the October 6 episode, Rodriguez and Witney Carson only scored a 13/30 for their samba to Mariah Carey‘s “Obsessed,” and Carrie Ann Inaba received boos from the audience for her critiques of the performance.
“What was going on?” Inaba asked. “I’m serious. Where’s all your joy? I felt like you were dimming your light a little bit in this dance.”
When the audience had a visceral reaction to the comment, Inaba reminded them, “This is what I get paid for, people!” She also further explained her critique to Rodriguez, adding, “I don’t ever want you to dim your light. You’re special. You have a natural gift. I want it more. Don’t ever not smile again. I need your light. We all do!”
But Carson explained to TV Insider afterwards that not smiling was part of Rodriguez getting into character for the dance. “I think it depends on the song and it depends on the character. Mariah Carey is very much a diva,” she explained. “I don’t think Guillermo’s light dims no matter what. His light will always shine.”
Referencing Inaba directly, she added, “I felt like that was an ‘out of pocket’ comment from Carrie Ann.”
At the end of the day, scoring well with the judges is only half the battle, as eliminations are decided based on the judges’ scores combined with viewer votes. Since Rodriguez has been a fan-favorite all season long, he’s thrived when it comes to fan votes, which has kept him in the competition, despite his low scores.
Rodriguez and Carson lived to see another week, which means they’ll hit the dance floor on October 13 for Super Bowl night, where the remaining 11 couples will dance to songs by past Super Bowl Halftime Show performers.
Dancing With the Stars, Season 35, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+
—Reporting by Michael Maloney
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I love Guillermo and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" but what's happened this season proves what a joke this show really is. There is no real competition. Not based on talent but popularity. Really kind of embarrassing frankly.
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