# ‘DWTS’ judge Carrie Ann Inaba loudly booed for saying Guillermo Rodriguez lost his ‘joy’

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-10-07 18:20 UTC · Category: Entertainment

## Executive Summary
Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba faces audience backlash after claiming contestant Guillermo Rodriguez has lost his 'joy'.

## Intelligence Brief
During a recent episode of Dancing with the Stars, judge Carrie Ann Inaba sparked a significant audience reaction when she stated that contestant Guillermo Rodriguez had lost his 'joy'. According to reports from Entertainment Weekly, Inaba was loudly booed by the crowd following this specific critique of Rodriguez's performance. The incident occurred during a themed broadcast referred to as Mariah Carey Night, a session where LateNighter reports that Guillermo Rodriguez adopted a diva-like persona for his routine. The tension centered on the disconnect between Inaba's critical assessment of the dancer's emotional state and the crowd's support for the performer. Coverage of the event has been widespread across several entertainment outlets. Entertainment Weekly highlighted the immediate reaction of the live audience and the specific phrasing Inaba used regarding the loss of 'joy'.


Meanwhile, Yahoo and Entertainment Weekly both detailed the subsequent responses from the pairing involved, noting that both Guillermo Rodriguez and his professional partner, Witney Carson, reacted to the judge's claim. Cosmopolitan further expanded the narrative by focusing on how Carrie Ann Inaba herself reacted to being booed by the spectators after delivering her critique, adding a layer of conflict between the judging panel and the viewers. To understand the stakes of this moment, it is necessary to note the context of the competition's current phase. Rodriguez and Carson are working together as a pair, and the critique regarding a lack of joy suggests a decline in the performance quality or emotional connection that the judges expect at this stage of the tournament. The use of a diva persona on Mariah Carey Night indicates an attempt by Rodriguez to bring high energy and personality to the floor, which contrasts with Inaba's perception that the intrinsic joy of the dance had vanished. This clash highlights the ongoing friction between technical judging and the emotional appeal of the celebrity contestants.


Future developments will likely center on whether this critique affects the scoring and standing of Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson in the competition. Based on the coverage from Cosmopolitan and Yahoo, observers are monitoring the continued fallout between Inaba and the participants. There is specific interest in how Rodriguez and Carson will address these criticisms in their upcoming performances to prove that the 'joy' Inaba claimed was missing has returned. The reaction of the live audience suggests a strong preference for Rodriguez, and it remains to be seen if this public support will influence the judge's future evaluations of the pair's progress.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| IMDb | ‘Dancing With the Stars’: Witney Carson Reacts to Carrie Ann Inaba’s Criticism | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZkFVX3lxTFBIVjlPN2NWTi1oX1cxM3ctY2kxcG80Qk9ybnA5RHA5M01ONmo5XzJILTZ3VHdXQzZDRkNhbTAzVGJLWDRpdHdEODBLTTRMdzFWRng5TDFqUHdNRnBiTHB4SDV3NFF3UQ?oc=5) |
| Billboard | Guillermo & Witney Carson Dance Mariah Carey's 'Obsessed' on 'DWTS' | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxOT0JEUGFXc3FZRjV2ekFWT0ZsUUpZb2pEbllUaUVKQTJ5a0ZwRGtWUGQzdVlMeENuTWNBc1lVSlNpSjBQTkZEdFp3bjFlN1hKYXpYMU51RGxiU1lJTktVUEp2OVlTTW1mRC1FTWdHOUlYZC1sLVB4N1c0SlQ4aHh0dHlJS3MtQzRoN3RUb3EwdGdRUXBXb3h6VlRFSVBJSWRicjdVNA?oc=5) |
| Yahoo News UK | Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson react to “DWTS” judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s claim his ‘joy’ is gone | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxQSEdJSU11NzJJVTRIUmhCT0N5c0ppZmY2dW53UnpVaFNxQU9tQmh3RENUczJIbE5wOUJlWUVsbUEwdVI4aUZqcGhHcWhLU2VPcGZfZ2lJeWVlYk9ZdkNCbTV2ZGZtTk9UbjB5X0o5Y0N1bVA0ZXBoZW8xSWltY2RVQVZEWmxfVlE?oc=5) |
| IMDb | ‘Dancing With the Stars’: Witney Carson Reacts to Carrie Ann Inaba’s Criticism | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiakFVX3lxTFBvYUUzVVJjWkF6U3pEdjI1bmhvRkFsTzhwcFRFQk9LSzZmLWowamwyREdBdHRNWm16VkRobHF3Ml9BVnZUOGU4VkRQMWU4WmFTSXItY1FlYUM1S0dPY3NBVlBCOTMyT0xGZGc?oc=5) |
| Us Weekly | ‘DWTS’ Pro Witney Carson Reacts to Carrie Ann Inaba’s ‘Out of Pocket’ Criticism of Partner Guillermo | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxOUW1jSlZGSXhITW00dnlsNkRTRmFpbXViNVd4Q0Q2MEpyc2dkSDluNm5pdF83TkFzU0x0N2xCcGd1NjIzQ3J2cmFrQlRQc1JsZHE3aWNYaUVGamhpNTlxQVFjd09QQUNTOFYwQk9Hc1MySG5PZ2hLc29DNXZjaFlMcDdCLW5iQzZYR24zLV9IT3d0RkdhbkVYekhyUFpwVVhsT1NOYg?oc=5) |
| AOL.com | ‘DWTS’ Pro Witney Carson Reacts to Carrie Ann Inaba’s ‘Out of Pocket’ Criticism of Partner Guillermo | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifkFVX3lxTE9WOHAwelpFeGZZeWVSSUFYTHlRRWhlSGk2bWdJMFc0T1dMd0NjalEwS3JJaFNfbEM1eTVMd2NEckNaMUhMMGRVb1lOZWRreDlfRHdqOUdLQVhHOEZKWXhySVdrdkdvejZ1T0lNRFR2OXUzNFVmMFhJcVYtTVdiQQ?oc=5) |
| IMDb | ‘Dancing With the Stars’: Witney Carson Reacts to Carrie Ann Inaba’s Criticism | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiakFVX3lxTFB2YTI1Z2VFMG5zSHNsSG1NTm9KWk90WFpGYUx4SEZxSzBxSkVrNHVmVkdDZkwtX0FQeWFoOW1wdUNudzZVc20tbmdEQ0dTSVRNWWF4Rlh5STVSYXJaemhSc29tcjA3bmkwelE?oc=5) |
| Cosmopolitan | ‘DWTS’ Judge Carrie Ann Inaba Reacts to Being Booed for Comment About Guillermo Rodriguez | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxNbkxRWmIzQW5tWTRkUjNSQWJGbjNFMnF6ZVJnSXNpNUhxWFVPYm9PaC0zQm9lX0lNUllMLUdfRE1qN3dBc0tzOXlZb3cyMjc3dzljQ184ZE93MzZjdjV0WU5LOWFfVGg5b042VnhVV3RtUmFKd1JIUnFMeU9aQm9BWmplUHYxeVc1UEpCWE5EQWtsek0zZ3JJ?oc=5) |
| LateNighter | Guillermo Rodriguez Channels His Inner Diva on DWTS Mariah Carey Night—Watch | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxOcXJLSURkUFhrWUZmSFJscHVSejBKNjNucWt4Q0hVanE2WG9fclZIcVhHR255Ukx1UjBBR215ZUtCTW9vLTFkWDNPeVpWN0VOOWdFMUYxUHpHVE9hZkNWRUdCUVEtUXV5ZzVWUnkwQWxhejI3YVc3ZlZFSjkyNGZYdkttWjB0X3k1UFB4amJwdjZVYXBPOFRfcmJDZFpObUlxOHdORDdSZTlPZw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | ‘DWTS’: Witney Carson Reacts to Carrie Ann Inaba’s Criticism | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxNYXNLb2RGNkMwWlFjSlRFVmJnY1IyNTQ0a0lkeTZvQjAxMThqRjRQOGNXWkRtQ29zai03cy1tQW85Wm9DaWxpWkQzSk1Dc0owUWhLalJKNGwtaWlZMDFoaGhNUDFYUUZzeGFjSVJGQlRlR29Fd0ZxZTlOZGRRM2ptM2NvcXE4aDJ1SThKbUFSRHJDcEp3VE9pUHhVOA?oc=5) |
| Entertainment Weekly | Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson react to DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s claim his ‘joy’ is gone | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxPMkNiMDRzQWNCYWk3SzNwTGdwUkltc2tGZUhBNGp0bEl1a055cmE3V210dHFfUjR2eHVOc2Q5NWw2d3dSU05DTXhkejlyaUhtNGZKYWEyTWxqTWVKNnViTmVpTjRKVWFTcl9VdU8xZWpMVWF3eUhvcjNXNTZqQVl0V2o2dnVlMUJBb0t6VnRScWNPQWVaY2pYWUNLM0l5WVRQVmdzTUs2R1BmM01QRUE?oc=5) |
| Entertainment Weekly | ‘DWTS’ judge Carrie Ann Inaba loudly booed for saying Guillermo Rodriguez lost his ‘joy’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxQQUdXZW9jd1FGb1lqeUJreXcyN0J5OWx3endFUTFSZEpfUElyU0FrX3F0S2JKanBqajJCVllWdXlTSzFBUkNIVlBfcHpYUmVCVU1GTnRpbnhIV3NQckVfOWJyOFRSOVVobExxRHhoSzlfYS0yaV9pdUdqSTJRVThLSmFZdkNPWF9LdERPOU1YZzBMcHczWFlIT09DMVN3eXJranc?oc=5) |

---
*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-10-07/dwts-judge-carrie-ann-inaba-loudly-booed-for-saying-guillermo-rodriguez-lost*