Halloween Night Shocker: Fans Call Out ‘DWTS’ Judge for Unfair Treatment!

On Halloween night, “Dancing with the Stars” featured judges evaluating celebrities as they faced their deepest fears through dance.

On Halloween Night, competitors on “Dancing with the Stars” showcased impressive routines, but judge Carrie Ann Inaba faced backlash from fans who accused her of unfair scoring and favoritism.

Each routine on the show represented a personal nightmare, featuring themes such as snakes, the boogeyman, killers, eerie dolls, darkness, and vampires.

Daniella Karagach and Dwight Howard performed a haunting contemporary dance to “Ring Around the Rosie,” capturing the eerie Halloween theme. Their routine earned them their first ten of the season from judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

Inaba continued to award top scores, giving tens to Danny Amendola and Witney Carson, Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber, Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson, and Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold.

Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli primarily gave 9s throughout the evening, with Tonioli being the exception by awarding a perfect ten to Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson, placing them at the top of the leaderboard.

Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong concluded the show with a performance that earned a 9 from Carrie Ann Inaba, while Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli awarded them tens. This led to viewer frustrations over Inaba’s scoring, as many felt she showed favoritism by giving higher scores to other contestants while ranking Kinney and Armstrong lower.

One viewer expressed anger, stating, “Carrie Ann should have given Chandler a 10!! She definitely has her favorites (Joey) and then expects others to be perfect or she knocks off a point. 😠”

Another frustrated fan shared their thoughts, saying, “Amazing dance by Chandler! She should have received a total of 30; Carrie Ann is not being fair to her!” Others expressed similar disappointment, with one commenting, “Amazing dance!! Carrie Ann should be fired after this episode for giving everyone but her a 10. I’m glad Derek and Bruno gave them 10s!”

Another fan expressed their suspicions, stating, “Carrie Ann picks her favorites. Dwight did not deserve a 10 or the 3 extra points.” One viewer observed a pattern in Inaba’s scoring, commenting, “It’s so obvious by the way she underscores Chandler that Carrie Ann favors the male celebs! Such a sham! Chandler is the best dancer!”

Another viewer amplified the critique by saying, “Carrie Ann was insufferable tonight. Can we bring Mark back, please?”—referring to Mark Ballas, a former contestant who guest-judged on a previous episode.

Some viewers were unrestrained in their opinions, with one fan stating, “She NEEDS to go. I don’t care if she’s been there since day one; they were fine with letting Tom go. She’s TERRIBLE.” This fan was referencing Tom Bergeron, who was fired from the show.

Another upset viewer declared, “This might be the most egregious incorrect judgment I’ve ever seen her make. It’s insulting to Chandler and her talent at this point, who could have been scoring tens weeks ago.”

Someone pointed out inconsistencies in Inaba’s scoring, saying, “How do you give Danny a 10 and Chandler a 9? I am disappointed. Carrie Ann misjudged tonight, giving 10s to everyone in the beginning; not everyone was a 10 tonight. She needs to be reprimanded; she made the show look bad!”

Another voice of reason weighed in, stating, “Reprimanding her is a little strong. As everyone here loves to point out, she doesn’t have a ballroom background, so her scores will be less in line with Derek and Bruno.”

One viewer observed that the critiques of Inaba raise an interesting point, noting how no one seems to mention Tonioli as being “too much,” influenced, or needing to be “checked.” They expressed admiration for Tonioli but criticized the double standard that women face.

The viewer felt that the show was fantastic overall and suggested that Ilona Maher and Nedoroscik may have been underscored, although they acknowledged lacking the judges’ years of dance experience. Still, they added enthusiastically, “I am excited for the next show!”

As emotions ran high, fans continued to debate Inaba’s choices. Some viewers expressed their support for her, with one admitting, “I’m probably the minority that agrees with Carrie Ann.” Another fan appreciated her style, saying, “Carrie Ann’s costume was really cute, love it.”

Despite the criticism, Inaba expressed her enthusiasm for being a judge on “Dancing with the Stars,” stating, “I love the talent this season. I think that there are a lot of people that have room to grow, and I think that’s what the show’s always been about.”

The TV personality expressed her enjoyment in witnessing the contestants’ growth, believing this is why audiences stay engaged and invested in the show. Her emphasis on encouraging improvement often leads her to offer constructive criticism, which doesn’t always resonate well with the audience.

However, she remains unfazed by the boos she occasionally receives for her remarks, stating, “The whole point is we want people to have their opinions. The reason why people get invested in this competition is that they have an opinion, and it matters.”

Inaba emphasized that their show is one of the few where judges actually display scores, underscoring the significance of their evaluations. She noted that the audience’s reactions, including boos, reflect their investment and support for the contestants. Inaba appreciates the passionate engagement of viewers this season.

Inaba, who has been on “Dancing with the Stars” for nearly 20 years, described the show as “like family” to her. She has been a part of it since its premiere on ABC on June 1, 2005, and hasn’t missed a season. The “Show Girls” star is amazed by the passion people have for dance, noting that each season transforms the lives of the contestants.