Derek Hough Breaks Silence On Feud With Carrie Ann Inaba

Derek Hough, a beloved figure in Dancing With the Stars (DWTS), has transitioned from being a fierce competitor as a professional dancer to one of the show’s esteemed judges. While he now understands the challenges of judging, Derek hasn’t forgotten the intensity of his early days on the ballroom floor—especially his strong opinions about judge critiques.

In a recent Instagram post, Derek took fans down memory lane, revisiting a fiery moment from 2008 when he passionately called out judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. The post brought a wave of nostalgia and laughter from DWTS fans who missed the drama of the earlier seasons.

Dancing With The Stars – Derek Hough’s Viral Throwback: A Playful Jab at DWTS Judges

On November 25, Derek shared a humorous Instagram video recreating his 2008 outburst alongside his Season 6 partner, Shannon Elizabeth. The original clip showed Derek venting his frustration after receiving harsh critiques from the judges.

“They’re coming at our hip action? What about the heel leads happening out there?” Derek passionately exclaimed in the 2008 confessional while Shannon wiped away tears. “The feet coming off the floor, the horrific demented lines people are making out there? And you’re giving them 9s and 10s. Are you kidding me?”

In the Instagram recreation, Derek humorously mouths the words from his younger self while a shirtless version of him pretends to yell at Carrie Ann and Bruno, who comically react as though frightened. Text on the video humorously read, “Derek getting mad at the judges.”

Reflecting on the moment, Derek captioned the post, “After 15 years, I finally got to say what I really feel… to their faces! Let’s just say, the early days of @dancingwiththestars came with a smidge more drama and intensity than now. Nobody knows about disagreeing with the judges more than Baby Derek. ”

Dancing With the Stars Spoilers – Fans Share Their Reactions

Derek’s playful recreation struck a chord with DWTS fans, who loved seeing this lighter side of the seasoned judge.

“Watching you get mad looking like a 12-year-old boy is quite entertaining ♥️,” commented his wife, Hayley Erbert.

“Bring back this energy tbh everyone is a little too supportive of each other now .”

“This is so unhinged lol.”

“Honestly, I miss the days with a smidge more drama.”

The post served as a reminder of the high-stakes emotions and fiery exchanges that once defined DWTS.

 Dancing With the Stars Spoilers –  Carrie Ann Inaba Faces Heat from Fans

While Derek’s post was lighthearted, Carrie Ann Inaba has been under scrutiny this season for her critiques. Fans and contestants alike have noted her inconsistent scoring and unpredictable comments, particularly toward female contestants.

For example, during Halloween Nightmares Night, Carrie Ann criticized Chandler Kinney and her partner Brandon Armstrong’s Viennese Waltz, saying, “That wasn’t perfection.” Despite this critique, Derek and Bruno awarded the pair a perfect score, marking their first 10s of the season.

Chandler later shared with Entertainment Weekly: “The judges do push me really, really hard because they have high expectations. I understand, and I take the criticism. But tonight, it was probably showing a bit, I was getting a little frustrated because I wanted to know what to do. Otherwise, when I get to rehearsal, I’m a little lost.”

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Dancing With the Stars Spoilers – Is Tension Brewing Among DWTS Judges?

Rumors suggest that tensions between the judges have been mounting, particularly with Derek and Bruno reportedly growing frustrated over Carrie Ann’s feedback style.

According to The Sun, these frustrations have sparked internal discussions about her future on the panel. Some sources even speculate that Mark Ballas, a former contestant and occasional guest judge, is being considered as a potential replacement.

While nothing is confirmed, Derek’s recent post reminds fans of DWTS’s spirited history—where passion, drama, and humor collide to create the magic of the ballroom. Fans can only wait to see how the show evolves in the seasons to come.

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with DWTS right now. Come back here often for all DWTS spoilers, news, and updates.

Editorial credit: Silvia Elizabeth Pangaro / Shutterstock.com