Former Dancing With the Stars pro Maks Chmerkovskiy is questioning Carrie Ann Inaba’s criticism of Jenna Johnson after a controversial lift sparked debate on ABC’s Emmy-nominated competition show.
During The Viall Files podcast, Maks shared why he disagreed with the judge’s decision to dock points from Jenna and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr., during their Super Bowl Night samba.
“She goes and starts reading off the rulebook, but then that same rulebook that’s applicable in ballroom with lifts is only applicable to a couple dancing,” Maks explained. “You’re not talking about extra background dancers running out.”
Jenna and Harry performed a high-energy samba featuring two troupe dancers helping Harry execute a backflip mid-routine. However, Carrie Ann took issue with the move, citing the show’s rules about lifts in samba.
Maks wasn’t buying the explanation.
“There’s no ‘three other people’ in the rulebook. The point is: Carrie Ann, get some consistency,” he quipped. “A lift is a lift if a partner lifted his partner. If you’re going to have [the] troupe run out and throw someone in the air, that’s not a lift. That’s Dancing With the Stars creative direction, and you should complain to the creative director.”
However, he wasn’t entirely opposed to Carrie Ann’s feedback. Maks agreed that the routine lacked sufficient samba content, arguing that the choreography leaned too heavily into Harry’s signature movement style.
“[She felt the] samba content wasn’t enough, and I agree,” he admitted. “They gave too much of a nod to [Usher’s type] of movement and the movement quality, which is Harry’s card. … But samba didn’t play out, and I think that’s where Carrie Ann should have ended.”
Maks’ biggest issue was that Carrie Ann raised the lift controversy without seemingly following through with a clear consequence.
“To give it a lift situation, come on? Then, give him a 7, take the points [or] something. Why did you bring this up if you’re not going to do anything about it? That’s my problem,” he concluded.
