Carrie Ann Inaba appears ready to move forward after a tense week on Dancing With the Stars. On October 24, the longtime judge shared a new Instagram post reflecting on the emotional Dedication Night, offering a subtle response to the controversy surrounding pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy’s one-week suspension.
The drama began after Val criticized the way Carrie Ann judged his wife, Jenna Johnson, during the October 13 episode. His online comment led to his temporary suspension, leaving him unable to perform with his celebrity partner, Jenna Dewan, on Dedication Night.
Despite the controversy, the October 20 episode ended on an emotional note. Dewan performed a tribute to her mother with pro dancer Alan Bersten, while Val praised their performance as “perfection.” Fans also captured a moment when Carrie Ann and Jenna shared a warm hug backstage, sparking discussion about whether the two women had put their differences behind them.
In her October 24 post, Carrie Ann shared several photos from Dedication Night, including the hug with Jenna. She thanked everyone involved for creating a night of emotional expression, storytelling, and artistry, describing the episode as “a night of much needed emotional catharsis.”
The judge also reflected on the complicated but resilient nature of the human experience. She thanked guest judge and former pro Kym Johnson, adding that she was “always wonderful,” before looking ahead to the next episode with the message, “Looking forward to Halloween night!” followed by Halloween emojis.
Jenna quickly responded in the comments with three emojis: 💕✨👯♀️. Fans also welcomed Carrie Ann’s message, with many expressing relief that the show seemed to be moving past the recent drama. One viewer described the episode as feeling like “therapy night with friends,” while another praised the vulnerability shared through the performances.
Meanwhile, Val is scheduled to return to the ballroom on October 27 for Horror Movie Night. He and Dewan are preparing an Argentine Tango inspired by the film 28 Days Later, as the competition enters another critical stage. Two couples are set to be eliminated that night.
With Val’s return approaching and Carrie Ann publicly reflecting on the emotional week, fans will be watching closely to see whether the judge and the professional dancer can also put their disagreement behind them.
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.
