DWTS Shocker: Jordan Chiles Blasts ‘Race and Gender’ Bias After 3rd Place Robbery – Carrie Ann Inaba’s Tearful Defense Explodes Online
In a finale that promised glamour and grace, Dancing with the Stars Season 34 delivered drama instead. Just hours after Robert Irwin and Witney Carson hoisted the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles unleashed a raw, 47-second Instagram Story that has ignited a firestorm across social media.
“I do not accept this 3rd place,” Chiles declared, her voice cracking with emotion.
“This isn’t a loss due to skill—it’s a loss because of race and gender.” The video, raw and unfiltered, exploded overnight, amassing millions of views and thrusting the long-simmering tensions of the competition into the harsh spotlight of public scrutiny.
For fans glued to their screens on November 25, the outcome felt like a gut punch.
Irwin and Carson, the Australian wildlife conservationist and his pro partner, clinched victory with a heartfelt freestyle tribute to Irwin’s late father, Steve “The Crocodile Hunter” Irwin, earning perfect 30s across the board despite Irwin battling a rib injury sustained just hours before showtime.
Their quickstep to Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” and instant cha-cha sealed the deal, blending raw emotion with technical precision. TikTok star Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy snagged second place with a flawless 90/90, their samba and freestyle oozing charisma.
But it was Chiles, paired with the electrifying Ezra Sosa, who stole the spotlight—and then had it cruelly dimmed.
Chiles’ night was a masterclass in resilience and artistry.
Assigned a fierce paso doble to Rihanna’s “Breakin’ Dishes” by head judge Carrie Ann Inaba herself, the 24-year-old gymnast channeled her Olympic fire, dropping into splits and unleashing powerful cape work that left Bruno Tonioli dubbing her the “Queen of the Amazons.” Inaba, coaching the duo in rehearsals, praised Chiles’ intensity but nitpicked the opening for feeling “a little too strong,” docking a point for a 29/30.
The instant dance? A blind-drawn tango to “I Like It” by Cardi B, which Chiles nailed with razor-sharp spotting and chemistry, earning a unanimous 30.
Then came the freestyle—a genre-bending explosion to Beyoncé’s “Bow Down” transitioning into Normani’s “Motivation,” the very track Chiles once flipped to during her Paris 2024 floor routine.
Normani herself crashed the stage in a surprise cameo, turning the number into a sisterhood anthem of hip-hop flair, gymnastic flips, and unapologetic Black girl magic.
The crowd erupted; Derek Hough called it “in it to win it.” Tonioli gushed it was a “showstopper.” And Inaba? She delivered the praise that would soon haunt her: “That is the best freestyle I have ever seen in 20 seasons, hands down!” Another perfect 30.
Chiles and Sosa tallied 89/90 overall—edging out Irwin’s scores but falling to viewer votes, which propelled the Aussie heartthrob to the top with 72 million ballots cast.
As confetti fell and Irwin tearfully thanked his family—sister Bindi and mom Terri beaming from the audience—the ballroom buzzed with whispers. Chiles, beaming in post-show interviews, hugged Sosa and Normani, insisting she felt “more than good” about their journey. But behind the smiles, the sting festered.
By midnight, her Story hit: eyes red, voice steady but laced with pain.
“I’ve poured everything into this,” she said, alluding to her stripped Paris bronze medal controversy—a saga she recently called a blow fueled by those who “didn’t want to see three beautiful Black women on that podium.” “And now this? It’s not about the dances. It’s deeper.”
Social media detonated. #JusticeForJordan trended worldwide, with fans decrying a “robbery” worse than her Olympic heartbreak. “Jordan placed third after the BEST FREESTYLE IN 20 YEARS? Insane,” tweeted one viewer, echoing thousands.
“This show has a race problem—always has,” another posted, resurfacing clips of Inaba’s season-long critiques of Chiles, from a “too harsh” Week 1 score to interrupting Derek Hough to defend a “Wicked” routine.
Even during the finale, as Inaba critiqued the paso doble, an audience heckler shouted in protest—prompting the judge to snap back sharply, “Excuse me? We’re moving on!” Clips of the exchange went viral, fueling accusations of bias.
“Carrie Ann judges women harder, especially WOC,” one X user ranted, citing Inaba’s own admissions.
The backlash peaked when Inaba, the show’s emotional anchor for two decades, broke her silence. In a gut-wrenching Instagram Live from her Los Angeles home—tears streaming, voice trembling—she addressed the “deeply hurtful” narrative.
“I am profoundly wounded by what’s being said right now,” she confessed, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. “I’ve judged this show fairly every single night, but with Jordan? From day one, I’ve loved her spirit, her fire.
I coached her personally for that paso doble because I believed in her.” Pausing to compose herself, Inaba continued: “I don’t control the audience votes—that’s the fans. But to hear my praise for her freestyle twisted into something ugly? It breaks me.
Jordan, if you’re watching, know I rooted for you harder than anyone.”
Inaba’s video, clocking over 5 million views in hours, split the internet.
Supporters flooded her comments: “Carrie Ann, you’ve been her biggest cheerleader—don’t let the haters win!” Critics fired back: “You said it was the best in 20 seasons, then she loses? Actions speak louder.” The feud ties into broader DWTS critiques—past seasons plagued by “angry Black woman” tropes aimed at stars like Chandler Kinney, and Chiles herself clapping back at Week 1 shade.
Chiles, ever the advocate, has navigated it all: from rejecting DWTS invites pre-Olympics to balancing elite training with rehearsals, all while processing her medal saga.
This isn’t just tabloid fodder; it’s a reckoning for Dancing with the Stars. Season 34 shattered records—highest ratings in years, thanks to Chiles’ crossover appeal and Irwin’s Crocodile Hunter legacy.
But as Chiles retires to UCLA gymnastics and potential tours, her words linger: Is the ballroom truly equal, or does bias still call the tune? Inaba’s tears humanize the judges’ panel, but for many, they underscore the pain of systemic snubs.
Chiles followed up with a poised tweet: “Grateful for the love. This journey? It’s bigger than a trophy. Keep dancing your truth.” Sosa echoed: “We showed up, we slayed. That’s the win.” As the dust settles, one thing’s clear: Jordan Chiles didn’t just dance—she demanded to be seen.
And in 2025’s hyper-connected world, that’s a revolution in sequins.
