Carrie Ann Inaba, a judge on Dancing With the Stars, has publicly addressed the wave of online hostility targeting Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas. Her message appeared on Sunday, Nov. 30, beneath a post on Ballas Instagram account featuring a carousel of images from the pairs freestyle routine. The performance aired during the Wednesday, Nov. 26 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, following their elimination in the DWTS semifinals.
Inaba praised their work, calling the routine absolute brilliance and emphasizing that both dancers delivered a powerful and timely message. She noted that Leavitt and Ballas complemented each other creatively, adding that the choreography allowed Leavitt to fully embrace her artistry and step boldly into unfamiliar territory. According to Inaba, watching the performance felt healing in multiple ways.
She went on to express sadness over the harsh online comments directed at them, pointing out that she typically receives similar treatment herself. Inaba said it was painful to see accusations of favoritism, which she felt undermined the pairs dedication and effort throughout the season. She hopes the aftermath of their performance will encourage more thoughtful conversations about parasocial relationships, social media behavior, and less sensationalized press coverage.
Although disappointed they could not present the freestyle at the DWTS finale, Inaba believes that sharing it on an alternative platform ultimately gave the piece even greater impact. She praised the direction and camera work of @keyanshoots, saying the final result could not have been more meaningful. She ended her message by congratulating Leavitt and Ballas for transforming their difficult experiences into a compelling piece of art.
Background on the Freestyle
Freestyle routinestypically reserved for DWTS finalists due to their unrestricted naturewere still granted to Leavitt and Ballas after their unexpected exit. ABC collaborated with Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper to showcase the performance on her show. Their routine combined Frank Sinatras My Way with the theme from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
The duo previously appeared on the DWTS Official Podcast, hosted by season 33 champion Joey Graziadei, before knowing they would still get the chance to perform their freestyle. Ballas explained that the concept was rooted in the barrage of online criticism they faced throughout the season. Leavitt, who has also dealt with significant scrutiny connected to her role on Mormon Wives, inspired much of the routines emotional direction.
Ballas said he wanted the dance to reflect their journeyfrom early excitement to the emotional challenges brought on by digital backlash. He credited Leavitt for her resilience and shared that they supported each other through their toughest days. The choreography was designed to portray moments of joy followed by periods of darkness, embodying the highs and lows they experienced together.
Their full freestyle performance is currently available on the Call Her Daddy YouTube channel.
