Efron, who competed alongside professional partner Daniella Karagach in Season 34, argued that viewers would find the judges insufferable if they offered nothing but unvarnished praise. Speaking to Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea,” he emphasized that the panel’s value lies in their distinct roles: Bruno Tonioli prioritizes performance, Derek Hough focuses on technical precision, and Inaba centers her feedback on the emotional resonance of a routine. While he conceded that her style sometimes misses the mark, he described her willingness to voice subjective observations as a brave approach.
The friction reached a breaking point during the October 13 episode when Inaba flagged an illegal lift in a samba performed by Jenna Johnson and Harry Shum Jr. The critique left Johnson visibly upset backstage, prompting her husband, Val Chmerkovskiy, to post a now-deleted social media comment invoking the infamous Will Smith Oscars slap. Chmerkovskiy was subsequently suspended for one week, forcing his partner, Jenna Dewan, to perform with Alan Bersten. Since his return, Chmerkovskiy has apologized for the chaos, and both he and Inaba have signaled a return to professionalism, marked by a public hug during a recent broadcast.
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