By Page Six | Created at 2026-10-15 16:05:37 | Updated at 2026-10-16 18:56:37
1 day ago
“Dancing with the Stars” pro Jenna Johnson reportedly “broke down” backstage after her tense clash with judge Carrie Ann Inaba on Tuesday.
“As soon as she finally took a moment to herself, it was like the floodgates of emotion burst open and she was crying,” a ballroom insider told The Sun on Wednesday.
The source claimed Johnson, 32, “was comforted” by her husband and fellow “DWTS” pro, Val Chmerkovskiy, “who was pissed” about the incident.
“Jenna was sad and upset by Carrie Ann’s feedback,” the insider shared, “but Val was furious that she talked to his wife like that.”
Furthermore, the source said Johnson “feels terrible” for her partner, Harry Shum Jr.
However, the pro dancer is “more determined than ever to make up for it next week with a dance she thinks will blow the judges’ minds and have fans emotional,” the insider claimed.
Page Six has reached out to reps for Johnson and Inaba, 58, for comment.
During “Super Bowl Night,” Inaba called out Johnson for including a lift in her and Shum Jr.’s samba to “Yeah!” by Usher.
After the critique caught Johnson by surprise, Inaba read from a sheet of paper that “a lift is any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner,” as the audience fell quiet.
Additionally, Inaba told Shum Jr., 44, he needs to “put more content in [his] dances.”
Following the tense moment, Johnson told co-host Julianne Hough that she “totally understands” Inaba’s comments.
“I thought it was if you lifted your partner,” Johnson said. “But I totally hear Carrie Ann. I will take it. Sure.”
Speaking to E! News after the live show, Johnson shared that she’s willing to “take all the feedback” from Inaba.
“Again, this is a competition. There are judges for a reason,” the mom of one said. “They do need to give feedback. So, yeah, we will take it.”
Chmerkovskiy, for his part, defended his wife on social media by referencing Will Smith’s infamous 2022 Oscars slap.
“You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” he wrote in a since-deleted TikTok status, which was originally met with criticism.
Chmerkovskiy aimed at Inaba in the comments under a separate TikTok video, writing, “Puts some respect on her name. Shes trippin talking to her like that.”
“Dancing with the Stars” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams on Disney+.
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