Dancing with the Stars judge Derek Hough was noticeably upset after producers cut him off mid-critique. Hough has been part of the celebrity dance competition for nearly 19 years, taking on two distinct roles over the years. He competed on the series from 2007 to 2016 before returning in 2020 for Season 29 as a member of the judging panel.
DWTS producers abruptly cut short Derek Hough’s Jenna Dewan feedback
Viewers were left guessing after Derek Hough’s feedback for Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy was cut short.
During the Sept. 29 “Yacht Rock Night,” the Dancing with the Stars judge was cut off while critiquing the pair’s samba to Toto’s “Africa.” After Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli shared their feedback, Hough started his critique. He said, “When people hear the name Jenna Dewan, they have some expectations. Tonight, I’ll trade expectation for appreciation.”
The dancing pro acknowledged the routine’s difficulty, noting that viewers often underestimate how challenging it is. However, Hough added that he wants to see her try a different style after a run of fast-paced numbers.
He went on to say, “I can’t wait to see something smooth, letting it breathe, some air, the air coming off your shoulders…” Just as he was speaking, loud production music interrupted Hough, leaving him visibly annoyed.
According to Entertainment Weekly, this is the second consecutive week in which the show has faced issues with judge critiques. It follows fan complaints last week that contestants did not receive detailed evaluations. Amid backlash over Dancing With the Stars’ new one-word judging format, Derek Hough responded on social media.
The celebrity choreographer lip-synced to an audio clip from “The Office,” saying, “I knew exactly what to do, but in a much more real sense I had no idea what to do.” He captioned his TikTok with, “I didn’t get the memo.” On Instagram, he went with a Mary Poppins classic: “Should’ve busted out Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”
As for “Yacht Rock Night,” the evening ended with a surprising and emotional elimination that sent Taylor Hanson and partner Britt Stewart home. Viewers can catch Dancing with the Stars live Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
