Carrie Ann Inaba Shares How She Copes with 'Negative Comments' from “Dancing with the Stars ”Viewers

Brenton BlanchetTue, June 30, 2026 at 7:22 PM UTC

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Carrie Ann Inaba on 'Dancing with the Stars'Credit: Disney/Eric McCandless -

Dancing with the Stars' Carrie Ann Inaba shared how she navigates negative remarks from viewers

The judge revealed the book she used to read before heading on set in a new interview

"That has made it easier to read the comments,” she said

Carrie Ann Inaba doesn't let negativity get to her anymore.

The longtime Dancing with the Stars judge, 58, shared how she navigates "negative comments" from viewers of the ABC series and what has worked for her in tuning it all out.

In a Monday, June 29 interview with Woman's World, Inaba said she used to read Don Miguel Ruiz's self-help book The Four Agreements before filming, calling it "really important" to "be honest with myself, with the world, and have integrity with my words."

“So that has made it easier to read the comments,” she said. “I also think that because I’m giving my opinion, I believe I have to be open to other people’s opinion, because it’s all subjective, right? And I think that that’s okay.”

She has served as a judge on the dance-competition series since its debut in 2005.

Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli on 'Dancing with the Stars'Credit: Eric McCandless/Disney/Getty

Inaba added that season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, which ran from September to November 2025, was "the easiest year" because she felt "less alone."

“Everybody was getting negative comments, not just me. Whereas in the past it was only me, and oftentimes I do think that’s because I’m a woman," she said. "I do think that it’s because I’m not talking necessarily just about the steps — I’m talking sometimes about more ambiguous things, but I do talk from experience."

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Inaba added that she knows what she's saying and "has a lot of confidence" in her delivery.

"Everything I say is designed to try to help the person who’s dancing and pouring their heart and soul into this dance in front of me. It’s not always easy," she said. "I like honest, brutal truth, so that’s what I give.”

The panel of DWTS judges currently includes Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli. Back in November, Inaba told Variety that the online hate that came as a result of her platform has "definitely made me struggle with mental health."

As Inaba explained, she had "spoken to therapists about it" and learned to "always step into my truth each time" she appeared on set.

Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli on 'Dancing with the Stars'Credit: Adam Rose via Getty Images

“It used to really affect me,” she said. “I remember seeing some horrible words written about me, and I was shocked, because as a dancer you’re used to just getting the fan love. Now, as a judge, I recognize I was stepping into a whole different sphere, and I think the way I have always coped with it is that if I’m going to judge and speak my opinions freely, whether they’re popular or unpopular, I do believe I have to give the same grace to everyone else.”

DWTS season 35 will premiere in the fall on ABC and Disney+. Episodes will stream next day on Hulu. The full cast of celebrities and pros will be announced Sept. 2.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”