Dancing With the Stars’ Carrie Ann Inaba’s Wardrobe Mishap During Show

After missing Dancing With the Stars’ season 34 premiere, judge Carrie Ann Inaba returned to the competition with loads of energy, which nearly led to a wardrobe malfunction during the live broadcast.

How ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Addressed Carrie Ann Inaba’s Absence on Premiere

Carrie Ann Inaba almost had a misstep during her return to Dancing With the Stars.

One week after missing the season 34 premiere of the ABC competition series, the judge narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction while praising contestant Whitney Leavitt and her partner Mark Ballas’ cha-cha to Wild Cherry’s song “Play That Funky Music.” 

“Last week you just lit up this ballroom, you just set this competition on fire,” Carrie Ann told the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star during the Sept. 23 episode. “And this week, you have done the same.”

Then, while telling Whitney she was “like an engine,” the 57-year-old, who donned a low-cut silver dress, stood up and twirled her head while making engine noises. The movement caused her dress to slide over, leading Carrie Ann to say at the end of her critiques, “Oh, hi boob pad!”

Though the judge’s near-wardrobe malfunction on live TV happened in the middle of the broadcast, the beginning of her return to Dancing With the Stars went off without a hitch. 

Indeed, the choreographer—who, along with fellow judge Bruno Tonioli, has been on the panel since the show’s debut in 2005—praised influencer Alix Earle and her partner Val Chmerkovski after they opened the night with their dance number set to Lou Bega’s “Mambo No. 5.”

“Thank you for making that my first dance, because that was incredible,” Carrie Ann shouted. “You blew me away. I had no idea you are such a great performer. You’re fun and there’s a freshness to you. And I can tell it’s all new, but it makes it so much fun.” 

Disney/Eric McCandless

At the end of her remarks, Carrie Ann—who revealed shortly before the Sept. 16 episode that she would be missing the premiere because she was “quite under the weather”—apologized for taking up so much time with her comments.

“I’m sorry! I’m so excited,” she said through laughter. “I’m just happy to be back!”

Read on for a closer look at who else is tangoing onto the dance floor during season 34 of Dancing With the Stars. 

Disney

Baron Davis

Partnered with Britt Stewart

Disney

Jennifer Affleck 

Partnered with Jan Ravnik

Disney

Alix Earle 

Partnered with Valentin Chmerkovski

Disney

Dylan Efron

Partnered with Daniella Karagach 

Disney

Corey Feldman

Partnered with Jenna Johnson

Disney

Elaine Hendrix 

Partnered with Alan Bersten

Disney

Robert Irwin 

Partnered with Witney Carson

Disney

Jordan Chiles 

Partnered with Ezra Sosa

Disney

Scott Hoying 

Partnered with Rylee Arnold

Disney

Whitney Leavitt

Partnered with Mark Ballas

Disney

Hilaria Baldwin

Partnered with Gleb Savchenko 

Disney

Andy Richter

Partnered with Emma Slater

Disney

Danielle Fishel

Partnered with Pasha Pashkov 

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