Defending Professional Boundaries
Following recent social media criticism regarding the on-stage dynamic between Dancing With the Stars contestants Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy, judge Carrie Ann Inaba has stepped in to clarify the nature of their performance. Critics had suggested the pair’s rapport was inappropriate, given that both are in committed relationships—Dewan is engaged to Steve Kazee, while Chmerkovskiy is married to fellow pro dancer Jenna Johnson.
Inaba, 58, addressed the controversy directly in the comments section of an Instagram post. She urged viewers to understand the professional demands of dance, stating: «Dancers are physical beings. This is like the way we say hello. Don’t try to turn it into something it is not. Have some respect for both Jenna and Val and their partners please.»
Response from Steve Kazee
Steve Kazee also intervened to protect his fiancée and her dance partner from the baseless rumors. Mocking the conflicting opinions of internet critics, Kazee wrote: «They don’t have chemistry. They have too much chemistry. They have chemistry in the wrong places. Make up your minds. Y’all really got too much time on your hands. The spouses are unbothered, stay hatin.»
Performance and Personal Growth
The conversation surfaced shortly after Dewan and Chmerkovskiy delivered a compelling rumba to Mariah Carey’s “My All,” securing a score of 24 out of 30 and ensuring their safety for another week. Reflecting on the intense experience, Dewan shared with reporters that the competition has been both physically demanding and emotionally taxing.
«I keep saying that I knew it would be hard. I knew that would be a physically challenging situation. I didn’t realize how emotionally and mentally tough the whole process is too,» Dewan explained. «But it’s a good tough.» She noted that the process of being pushed outside her comfort zone makes her feel «alive.»
Chmerkovskiy echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the personal growth required in the competition. «I’ve seen her confidence be humbled week after week. She was humble already,» he noted. «I think it’s important to have a little bit of an ego cleanse and have a little bit of a struggle. It makes moments like tonight that much more triumphant and makes me that much more proud of us.»