Carrie Ann Inaba Calls for a New DWTS Lift Rule

Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba has addressed the controversy surrounding Val Chmerkovskiy’s reported suspension, Jenna Johnson’s reaction, and the show’s ongoing debate over lifts. Often referred to as “Liftgate,” the dispute has raised questions about how the program defines lifts, applies technical rules, and explains judging decisions.

Reports say Inaba offered to speak with Johnson after Johnson was described as “deeply hurt” by the controversy. Inaba also reportedly called for a new or clearer lift rule in a future season. Source 3 Source 7

The available reports do not establish every detail. They do not provide a complete disciplinary timeline, the exact reason for Chmerkovskiy’s reported suspension, or the wording of the proposed rule. Those gaps matter because online discussion has moved quickly from a judging disagreement to claims about official discipline and personal conflict.

What Happened With Val Chmerkovskiy’s Reported Suspension?

Several supplied reports connect Chmerkovskiy’s reported suspension with a broader Dancing With the Stars dispute involving lifts. One report describes Inaba as addressing the suspension while requesting a new lift rule for a future season. Source 1 Another says she addressed the suspension and called for a new regulation covering lifts. Source 5

The reports do not identify the exact episode, performance, or action that allegedly led to the suspension. They also do not state whether the suspension came from the show, its network, production staff, or another authority. The duration and official terms remain unconfirmed.

The safest description is that reports linked the suspension to the wider Liftgate controversy while leaving the disciplinary timeline unclear.

Understanding the DWTS Lift Controversy

In general terms, a lift occurs when one dancer leaves the floor with assistance from a partner. The support may involve holding, carrying, raising, or otherwise helping the other dancer become airborne.

Lifts can demonstrate strength, balance, trust, and control, but ballroom competition rules may restrict them depending on the dance style and how the movement is performed. The distinction is not always obvious on screen. A routine may include:

• A planned lift written into the choreography.
• A brief loss of contact caused by momentum.
• A supported aerial movement.
• A move in which one dancer appears airborne while retaining some contact with the floor.
• An accidental separation interpreted differently by judges.

Disagreements may concern whether the movement was planned, whether the partner provided full support, whether it fit the dance style, how long contact was lost, and whether another couple performed a similar move without a penalty.

A competition show needs rules that contestants can understand before performing. When one couple is penalized for a movement resembling another couple’s choreography, viewers may question whether the standard is being applied consistently. Confusion also increases when judges explain violations differently from week to week.

Carrie Ann Inaba’s Reported Conversation With Jenna Johnson

Cinemablend reported that Inaba discussed clearing the air with Johnson after Johnson was described as “deeply hurt” by the Liftgate controversy. Source 3 Us Weekly also reported that Inaba offered to speak with Johnson following the drama and proposed a new lift rule. Source 7

The reports establish an offer to communicate, not that a private conversation occurred or that the disagreement was resolved. The offer may reflect an effort to separate the technical issue from its emotional impact.

The controversy also illustrates the difference between intent and impact. Inaba may have intended to protect a competition standard or explain a technical concern, while Johnson and viewers experienced the criticism as personally damaging. Both elements matter in a televised competition, where judges must identify possible violations and explain decisions clearly.

Why Inaba Wants a New Lift Rule

The supplied reports say Inaba called for a new rule governing lifts in a future season. Source 1 The apparent goal is to reduce confusion and prevent similar disputes.

The sources do not provide the proposal’s exact wording or confirm that producers or the network have approved an official rule change. Inaba’s comments should therefore be described as a reported proposal, not an adopted DWTS policy.

A revised rule could clarify:

• What qualifies as a lift.
• How long a dancer may be off the floor.
• Whether the amount of partner support matters.
• Whether rules differ by dance style.
• How accidental loss of contact is evaluated.
• Whether aerial choreography requires advance review.
• What penalty applies to a violation.

The show could also explain whether a violation results in a point deduction, warning, scoring adjustment, technical mark, or no penalty when contact is lost incidentally. A published framework would help dancers plan routines and help viewers understand judging decisions.

Clear wording would not eliminate every disagreement. Dance involves interpretation, and judges may still differ over execution. Consistent explanations and enforcement could, however, make the process easier to follow.

How Lift Rules Could Affect Future Performances

Professional dancers may avoid movements that could be interpreted as illegal lifts. Choreographers could place greater emphasis on floor-based transitions, supported movements with clear contact, controlled changes of level, and aerial choreography that fits an explicitly permitted category.

Stricter rules could reduce some visual spectacle, but they would not necessarily eliminate dramatic choreography. A balanced policy could allow specific aerial movements, restrict lifts in styles where floor contact is central, require choreography review, and apply the same standard to every couple.

Viewers compare performances across episodes and seasons. When similar movements receive different responses, they may question the competition’s fairness. A published standard could reduce disputes based on incomplete information, provided the show applies it consistently.

What Remains Unclear

The supplied reports do not fully establish:

• The official reason for Chmerkovskiy’s reported suspension.
• Its length or disciplinary terms.
• The specific performance or incident involved.
• Whether it was directly caused by a lift violation.
• Which organization issued the discipline.
• The exact language of the proposed lift rule.
• Whether producers approved the proposal.
• When any new rule would take effect.
• Whether the rule would apply to every dance style.
• Whether Inaba and Johnson completed the proposed conversation.

Readers should distinguish reported associations from confirmed facts. No formal policy change should be treated as confirmed until Dancing With the Stars, ABC, or another official source publishes it.

Conclusion

The Carrie Ann Inaba and Val Chmerkovskiy suspension controversy has renewed attention on lift rules in Dancing With the Stars. The issue involves more than one performance or judging decision. It raises questions about technical standards, consistent enforcement, communication, and the relationship between judges and professional dancers.

Inaba’s reported response has two parts: offering to speak with Jenna Johnson after Johnson was described as deeply hurt, and calling for a new or clearer lift rule for a future season. Source 7

The available reporting does not confirm the exact reason, duration, or official terms of Chmerkovskiy’s reported suspension. It also does not establish that a new lift rule has been formally adopted or that Inaba and Johnson have completed a reconciliation conversation.

The next major question is whether the show will introduce a formal lift policy before the next season. Any policy would need to balance spectacle with safety, technical accuracy, and fairness. Future coverage should verify official statements from Dancing With the Stars, ABC, Chmerkovskiy, Johnson, and Inaba before presenting additional details as fact.

FAQ

Why was Val Chmerkovskiy reportedly suspended from Dancing With the Stars?

The supplied reports link his reported suspension to a broader controversy involving lifts, but they do not establish the exact reason, duration, or official disciplinary terms.

What is the DWTS “Liftgate” controversy?

“Liftgate” refers to a dispute over whether a performance included a prohibited lift or whether lift-related rules were applied inconsistently.

What did Carrie Ann Inaba say about Jenna Johnson?

Reports state that Inaba offered to speak with Johnson after Johnson was described as “deeply hurt.” The available summaries do not confirm whether the conversation occurred or what resulted from it.

What new lift rule did Inaba propose?

Inaba reportedly called for a new rule governing lifts in a future season. The reports do not include the proposal’s wording or confirm formal adoption.

Will Dancing With the Stars change its lift rules next season?

The reports indicate that Inaba wants a new or clearer rule, but they do not confirm an official change. Any final policy would need to come from the show’s producers or network.