The scores awarded by judges during the Dancing With the Stars season 33 have been criticized by fans, and now, former professional dancer Cheryl Burke is questioning their qualifications, particularly in the realm of ballroom dancing.
“You need to understand what you're discussing, right?” Cheryl, 40, remarked during the Wednesday, December 4, episode of her podcast “Sex, Lies and Spray Tans,” referring to current DWTS judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli. “They must be able to justify their comments. If you're merely using the correct terminology without being able to explain why, it becomes quite difficult.”
Cheryl, who left DWTS in 2022 after 17 years, pointed out that because the judges don't have training in ballroom dance, they “can’t really be more stringent” when evaluating the celebrities and their professional dance partners.
That being said, Cheryl did not discredit Derek, 39, Carrie, 56, and Bruno, 69, for the knowledge they've accumulated over the years but suggested they should continue their education, especially in areas where they might not be as well-versed.
“Just like the professional dancers must keep improving their skills, the judges should too,” Carrie added. “It's essential, and why wouldn't you want to do that? After all this time, if you're not familiar with the genre, why not get to know it better?”
Getty When Dancing With the Stars premiered in 2005, its audience was primarily older, but younger viewers have since grown to enjoy the competition.
Season 33 concluded in November, with former Bachelor Joey Graziadei claiming the Mirrorball trophy alongside his partner Jenna Johnson. Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher and her professional partner Alan Bersten secured second place, while performer Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong finished third.
Joey, 29, shared his thoughts on his Dancing With the Stars journey on Instagram, expressing gratitude after his significant win.
“Jenna, from the bottom of my heart I want to say THANK YOU.”
Thank you for creating an unforgettable experience. I appreciate you pushing me to exceed what I thought possible. Your belief in me, making me feel like I fit in among such incredibly talented people, means the world,” the former tennis professional wrote in a caption on his December 1 post. “I genuinely mean it when I say that you have positively changed my life. Your creative brilliance and talent are undeniable. You wholeheartedly deserve this, and I couldn't be happier for you.”
The thrill of dancing was not the sole attraction as unverified relationships appeared to form between partners Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko, along with former Bachelorette Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber. Enthusiasts may have been frequently checking their social media for glimpses of the duos' intimate interactions, but other professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy criticized such romances after the season's conclusion.
“Early on, in my first few seasons, I did engage romantically with some of my partners — extremely unprofessional in my view,” Val, aged 38, mentioned during a Tuesday, December 3, episode of the “Lightweights Podcast.”
He also contemplated his marriage to Jenna, 30, with whom he tied the knot in 2019, further stating, “I take my work and my art very seriously. So, allowing myself to get involved during the season was, in retrospect, a bit reckless. Now, after the season has ended, it’s different. We’re both adults and not on the job.”
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