‘DWTS’ pro Gleb Savchenko slams Carrie Ann Inaba’s judging, backs suspended Val Chmerkovskiy

Former “Dancing With the Stars” pro Gleb Savchenko slammed Carrie Ann Inaba’s “bulls—t” judging after Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended.

“I just watched Jenna [Johnson] and Harry [Shum Jr.]’s samba and I think it was a very entertaining dance and was really cool,” he began in a TikTok video Sunday, referring to pro Johnson’s routine with partner Shum Jr., which stirred up the controversy.

“I don’t think it was an OG samba, it was a bit flat-footed, it was like a hip-hop samba. But I’ll tell you this, if I was a judge instead of Carrie Ann, I would never, ever, ever call out that lift.”

Former “Dancing With the Stars” pro Gleb Savchenko (pictured here) slammed Carrie Anne Inaba’s “bulls—t” judging after Val Chmerkovskiy’s suspension. glebsavchenko/Tiktok
“But I’ll tell you this, if I was a judge instead of Carrie Ann, I would never, ever, ever call out that lift,” he told his TikTok followers Sunday. glebsavchenko/Tiktok

Savchenko, who competed on “DWTS” for Seasons 23 through 34, argued that what Inaba counted as a lift was just a “trick” featured on the show “many, many times.”

“Jen didn’t lift him, he didn’t lift Jenna, it wasn’t done in the couple so I think it’s bulls—t,” the 43-year-old declared.

“Probably, Carrie Ann just had to say something because she’s the lifts police of ‘DWTS.’ I think she was just doing her job creating a good TV moment, but I’d say team Val on this one. Period.”

“I think she was just doing her job creating a good TV moment, but I’d say team Val on this one. Period,” Savchenko said of Chmerkovskiy (pictured in May). Getty Images for Sports Illustrated
Chmerkovskiy was suspended for one week after making a controversial social media post when judge Carrie Ann Inaba (seen above) heavily critiqued his wife, Jenna Johnson. Disney

“I think there’s some bulls—t going on,” he concluded.

Chmerkovskiy, 40, was suspended for a week over his controversial social media post referencing Will Smith and Chris Rock’s 2022 Oscars incident.

In a TikTok post, the pro dancer defended his wife, Johnson, after Inaba gave harsh feedback for including a lift in her and Shum Jr.’s samba at “Super Bowl Night.”

Inaba claimed that Johnson and actor Harry Shum Jr. had a lift in their samba routine during “Super Bowl” night. ABC
The dancing duo (seen above) appeared taken aback by the judge’s remarks. ABC
In turn, Chmerkovskiy wrote, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” in a since-deleted TikTok status. GC Images

“You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” he wrote, referencing the 2022 Oscars when Smith slapped Rock onstage over the comedian joking about his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.

Smith followed up the attack by screaming, “Keep my wife’s name out your f–king mouth!”

Inaba responded to the comments via her Instagram Stories, writing, “So this is what we are doing now?”

A few days later, it was revealed that Chmerkovskiy would be sitting out of the forthcoming “DWTS” episode.

A few days later, it was revealed that Chmerkovskiy (pictured with Johnson) would be sitting out the forthcoming “DWTS” episode. Disney via Getty Images
The choreographer explained his “instinct” was to “defend” Johnson and also apologized to Inaba (seen above). Disney
Chmerkovskiy’s dance partner, Jenna Dewan (pictured here), will be dancing with “DWTS” pro Alan Bersten during the suspension. Disney via Getty Images

Chmerkovskiy responded to his suspension, writing in a separate statement that his “instinct” was to “defend” Johnson.

The choreographer admitted that he “made a poor decision to reference a meme to ‘keep my wife’s name’ out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention.”

As for Chmerkovskiy’s partner, Jenna Dewan, she will dance with “DWTS” pro Alan Bersten on Tuesday’s “Dedication Night.” The duo will perform a Viennese waltz in honor of Dewan’s mom, Nancy Bursch.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.

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