The DWTS lift controversy dominated entertainment headlines this week after Tuesday’s “Super Bowl Night” episode of “Dancing With the Stars” ended with a tense on-air clash between judge Carrie Ann Inaba and professional dancer Jenna Johnson. Johnson and her celebrity partner, “Glee” and “Grey’s Anatomy” actor Harry Shum Jr., had just performed a high-energy samba to Usher’s “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris when Inaba flagged an illegal lift in the routine — and pulled out a printed definition of the term to make her point.
The DWTS lift controversy played out live on ABC. After telling Shum Jr. he needed to “put more content” in his dances, Inaba added, “And there was a lift.” Johnson looked stunned. “A lift?” she asked. Inaba then read aloud from a sheet of paper: a lift is “any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner.” The studio audience fell noticeably quiet. Fellow judge Derek Hough broke the tension by quipping, “Dang, I feel like I got told off.” Despite the critique, the pair earned 33 out of 40 and advanced to the next week.
The DWTS lift controversy explained
At the heart of the DWTS lift controversy is a move near the end of the routine in which troupe dancers hoisted Shum Jr. into the air as he executed a backflip. Lifts are prohibited in samba and other Latin dance styles featured on the show, though they are allowed in styles like jazz, contemporary and salsa. Speaking to co-host Julianne Hough afterward, Johnson said she had understood the rule differently: “I totally understand. I thought it was if you lifted your partner,” she said, noting that in this case it was the troupe members — not Johnson herself — who lifted the celebrity.
Johnson later told E! News that she is willing to accept all comments from Inaba, emphasizing that judges exist to provide necessary feedback. But the moment’s awkwardness — Inaba interrupting Hough’s commentary to deliver the technical correction — is what sent the clip viral. Fans took to social media to debate whether the judge’s delivery was unnecessarily stern, with some noting she seemed “different from usual.”
Harry Shum Jr’s response to the DWTS lift controversy
Shum Jr. moved quickly to defuse the DWTS lift controversy the morning after the show. Commenting on the show’s official Instagram page on Wednesday, October 14, the 44-year-old actor wrote: “Everyone take a deep breath! It’s all going to be OK!” He continued, “Lots of madness in this world already so let’s just enjoy being entertained!!! I got to dance on national television again and people felt many things! I love it all. Thank you for watching and caring so much.”
The plea for kindness struck a chord with fans, many of whom praised Shum Jr. for keeping the focus on the dancing rather than the dispute. The “Glee” alum has been a fan favorite this season, and his gracious handling of the episode’s fallout only burnished that reputation.
Val Chmerkovskiy apology adds to the DWTS lift controversy fallout
The DWTS lift controversy spilled further into the week when professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy shared a social media post aimed at Inaba that drew heated reactions online, with some commenters comparing the tone to the 2022 Academy Awards incident. Chmerkovskiy subsequently apologized to the judge, closing out a turbulent few days for the long-running competition series.
For Inaba, the episode underscored her reputation as the panel’s stickler for the rulebook — she has long kept a close eye on lifts, which are prohibited in Latin routines. Whether the Super Bowl Night exchange becomes a lasting storyline or a one-week flare-up will depend on next Tuesday’s dances. One thing is certain: after a season of relatively smooth sailing, the ballroom has rarely felt this tense in season 35, and fans will be watching every step.