Derek Hough Revisits His ‘DWTS’ Outburst With Carrie Ann Inaba

Derek Hough is joining in on the viral trend of revisiting memorable moments from "Dancing With the Stars."

On Monday, November 25, Hough shared a video on Instagram featuring a clip from a confessional with his season 6 partner, Shannon Elizabeth, from 2008.

In the recreated video, Derek Hough humorously vented his frustrations to judges Bruno Tonioli—who appeared surprised by the outburst—and Carrie Ann Inaba.

“They’re coming at our hip action? What about the heel leads happening out there?” Hough said in the 2008 confessional while Elizabeth wiped away tears. “What about the heel leads, 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?” As text appeared over the video that read, “Derek getting mad at the judges.”

In his new Instagram post poking fun at the interaction, the "DWTS" judge wrote, “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," he added.

Hough's latest post comes after Inaba received heat for her comments on this season of the ABC competition show.

For Halloween Nightmares Night, contestants faced their fears through dance routines inspired by their personal nightmares. Chandler Kinney and her professional partner, Brandon Armstrong, delivered a stunning Viennese Waltz. However, judge Carrie Ann Inaba told her, "That wasn't perfection."

Judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli were visibly impressed, awarding Chandler and her partner, Brandon Armstrong, a perfect score of 10, marking the first time the duo had received 10s this season.

"The judges do push me really, really hard because they have high expectations," Kinney told Entertainment Weekly. "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."

According to The Sun, there is growing frustration among "Dancing With the Stars" judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli over Carrie Ann Inaba's unpredictable critiques and inconsistent scoring, particularly when it comes to female contestants. This has been especially noticeable following the Halloween episode.

Sources suggest that the situation has led to internal discussions about the possibility of replacing Inaba, with former contestant and occasional guest judge Mark Ballas reportedly being considered as a potential replacement.

Derek Hough's career on "Dancing with the Stars" has been both influential and highly successful.

He made his debut on the show during its fifth season in 2007 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the standout professional dancers. Known for his innovative choreography, engaging personality, and ability to bring out the best in his partners, Hough became a fan favorite.

Over the course of his time on the show, he claimed six Mirror Ball trophies, cementing his status as one of the most accomplished dancers in "DWTS" history. He won with partners such as Nicole Scherzinger (season 10), Jennifer Grey (season 11), and Bindi Irwin (season 21), showcasing his versatility in working with a wide range of celebrities.

After departing from the show following season 23 in 2016 to focus on other projects, including acting, producing, and touring, Hough made his return to "DWTS" in 2020 as a judge. Stepping in for Len Goodman during the pandemic, he has continued in this role, offering a combination of expert feedback and playful banter alongside fellow judges Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. Unfortunately, Goodman passed away a few years later.

We sensed his fragility, but we had no idea the extent of it. This was a huge shock for all of us," Hough shared following the loss of Goodman. "He's a special guy, just a special guy. We lost somebody special."

Reflecting on his friendship with Goodman, the three-time Primetime Emmy Award winner expressed admiration for the late choreographer's impact. "He was just pure joy. He was. I mean, what he represented and did for that show, for television, for all of us," Hough said, paying tribute to Goodman's lasting influence.

The "Dancing With the Stars" finale airs on Tuesday, November 26, on ABC.