Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba revealed what she would have told Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten if she didn’t have to follow the one-word critique rule.
“I was sad I didn’t have a chance to say more on air,” Inaba, 58, wrote via Threads on Thursday, September 24. “So I’ll leave it here: Watching Giada dance as a true and absolute beginner was inspiring and I commend her on being so courageous.”
Inaba praised the chef’s commitment, adding, “What I think makes her so incredibly special is the grounded honesty she expressed while going through this journey while also expressing pure glee and joy in the process of learning something new. It’s wonderfully freeing to step out of your comfort zone but only because it’s also absolutely terrifying. Bravo ❤️.”
De Laurentiis, 56, and Bersten, 32, were eliminated from DWTS season 35 on Tuesday, September 22, after their salsa received just 12 points out of a possible 30. (Tuesday’s episode sparked some backlash from viewers who were frustrated by the decision to only allow two judges to give feedback per pairing — while the third could only say one word.)
“I tried my best and it wasn’t best enough,” De Laurentiis told the audience at the end of the night. “But I tried my best.”
The Food Network personality elaborated on her short stint in the ballroom in an Instagram video shared on Wednesday, September 23, saying, “I just wanted to take a second and thank everybody for all of their support through this journey on Dancing With the Stars. And all the moms that shared their stories. It was really, really, really inspiring.”
Though she wasn’t in the competition for very long, De Laurentiis encouraged her followers to learn from her experience.
“I’m honored to represent women in their 50s and trying something new,” she shared. “[You should] try something that scares you, because honestly guys, it is a rush.”
De Laurentiis also thanked her pro partner, despite having a tense moment in rehearsals leading up to Tuesday’s performance.
“A shout-out to Alan, he was such a loving partner. Truly,” she continued. “So patient and helped me get really determined. So, it was really great.”
For De Laurentiis, one of the most important aspects of her DWTS journey was having her 18-year-old daughter, Jade, whom she shares with ex-husband Todd Thompson, see her try something new. “Watching Jade watch me dance, to me, that and having her checking in with me every day, texting me how I was doing and sending support and love from the east coast, that to me was the mirror ball,” she said. “That was everything. It was really special and something I won’t forget.”
In the social media video, De Laurentiis assured DWTS fans that she wasn’t upset about being cut from the competition.
“I pushed myself out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I think that’s what life’s all about. So, I’ve got nothing but love. I can’t wait to root everybody on. Thanks, you guys.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
