Instagram/@carrieanninaba
Long-time Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba has spoken about an extremely serious autoimmune flare that kept her from the historic show premiere. It was, indeed, the very first occasion of her not being there in an episode for more than two decades. In an unmasked and vulnerable display of emotion via an Instagram Live session, the star projected a tragic tale of the “perfect storm” she went through health-wise that led to her absence-from this, she abundantly expressed her thanks to the fans, friends, and production crew for their support.
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The realness came in from Inaba. The darling judge who has been filling the banter-floor-filler role on ‘Dance with the Stars’ for two decades recently did a very private live chat far from the glow of the ballroom. She was authentic, raw, and unfiltered, sitting from her living room, unguardedly speaking of something personal and deep- a health trouble that took away her keeping a perfect attendance record.
“Never missed an episode- not one- ever during these past 20 years… But this year, something finally told me it could not work,” she shared, “And I really did hear ‘No.’ It was, I don’t know-how to explain it, out of the ordinary, and really scary.”
The underlying health problem is somewhat related to many other autoimmune conditions she fights daily, like Sjorgens, lupus, and antiphospholipid syndrome. Inaba accompanied this explanation by a layman’s description: it is a “flare” when the body’s immune system basically gets confused and starts attacking its own healthy tissues. These flares come at unpredictable times and will incapacitate a person one day.
The “perfect storm” had hit right before this new season, she explained. And the fall season in itself brings its wave of viruses, making it hard for Inaba to avoid them. She actually thought she was making a good decision by heading to rehearsal early for the opening number to ease last-minute stress; little did she know that being around that many people was a recipe for yet another illness. Her body, already extra sensitive to environmental and emotional stressors, simply said No.”
“I’m a Capricorn. I have an incredible work ethic. I show up,” she said, with a thickly proclaimed herculean effort. “But I couldn’t.”
What followed turned out to be life-changing for this usually very strong-willed independent person. Asking for help was something she has really never been good at, and yet the response was “profoundly healing,” she said. Help came fast and furiously from friends Greg and John Redmond and then, probably most importantly, from the Dancing with the Stars production team.
“I got so much support,” she shared. “It was an immediate, ‘What do you need? How can we help you?’… To have the people who stand to lose by me not being there, support me that way was profoundly healing. So thank you guys.”
This positive response helped her come out of the usual isolation cycle that goes with long-term illness. She admitted that through those years, the chronic pain and the grief of having to give up certain paths in life led her more and more into bouts of depression and social withdrawal. As down as she felt about this crisis, it has become a path to connection and love from those whom she didn’t even know were out there.
There was, however, a silver lining. She got to watch the season premiere for the first time ever not as a judge but as an official fan-from-her-sickbed. “I became one of you guys,” she said with a grin. “I became a full-on fan.” The energy of this new season blew her away, alongside her former experience of the evolution of the show, which she also assured viewers she has brought back to the judging table.
The chat was flooded with compassion, ranging from “Your vulnerability is your strength. Thank you for sharing,” acknowledging that her openness has touched others who were battling invisible illnesses. Others said, “We love you Carrie Ann! Your health comes first,” a declaration of support echoed by the millions of fans she’s garnered in the past 20 years. One thoughtful viewer even said, “This is so important for people to understand. Autoimmune diseases are a silent battle,” pinpointing the importance of her story in the bigger picture.
What Carrie Ann Inaba shared was far more than just a celebrity health update. It reminds us in glaring lights about the invisible battles that people are fighting and how hugely healing a community response can be if an affected individual finally rallies the courage to say, ‘I can’t do this alone.’ Inaba’s return to the ballroom is not just her comeback; it’s every expression of leaning on others and determined resilience.
Carrie Ann Inaba was heard speaking about how she missed her first ‘Dancing With the Stars’ episode in over twenty years due to a severe autoimmune flare-up. The long-time dance judge gave a heartfelt explanation for her absence and the profound awakening that transformed her from a permanent fixture on the judges’ table to the newest and most zealous fan of the show. Her candid discourse on chronic illness and the imperative of self-care struck a chord with viewers of similar health battles.
For more than twenty years, the presence of Carrie Ann Inaba on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ felt as constant as the shimmering disco ball above their heads. This presence changed very recently when the judge was forced to miss a live show for the very first time-well, until then she had never missed an episode. In a raw and unfiltered video explanation, Inaba described her absence from the competition as due to a debilitating flare-up of her autoimmune disease. She spoke of struggling with the difficult choice of prioritizing her health, which sparked a tremendous change in her relationship with the show she was instrumental in defining.
“I can no longer say I’ve never missed a show in all these years,” Inaba confessed, her voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and acceptance. “And there was something powerful about letting that go and allowing myself to be human.” She revealed she even had to FaceTime with a friend to watch the episode she missed, needing “emotional support.” What she did find out was that it was renewed sense of wonder. “It was so wonderful. It was so hopeful,” she gushed. “I’m a full blown fan. Like I wish I had a jacket that said fan of dance with the stars. Number one.”
Her experience as a watcher gave her newfound appreciation for the contestants and the production. She commended the new set as “sharper,” “sexier,” and “sleeker,” nodding to the hard work of all those involved in the crew. More importantly, it widened her appreciation for the fans and the fiery passion it sparks. She turned to the audience and implored: “Let’s try to be kind,” she says. “You don’t have to blame or bash to support somebody… I just think that in this day and age, we should try to be as kind as we possibly can to each other, even when we have different opinions.”
The community’s response was overwhelmingly supportive. Fellow judge Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and host Alfonso Ribeiro raised their hands along with many dancers to offer their support in what she called a “wonderful” experience, while those commenting on her post filled the underlying story of turnaround with hundreds of their own accounts of fighting invisible illnesses.
Another user, who was battling fibromyalgia, scoliosis, and arthritis, wrote, “Today is a bad day and I’m trying so hard to fight it. My birthday is Wednesday so that is one of the many reasons to keep fighting.” This sentiment of everyday struggle was echoed by many, weaving a tapestry of mutual understanding and resilience. Another commented, “I battle with Lupus & I’ve always been a very active person but some days I don’t have energy to function. So frustrating!” This observation is particularly poignant for those whose affliction is not outwardly apparent, a point one other user expounded on as follows: they admired Inaba’s “realness,” going on, “I feel you in a different way-I’ve had chronic invisible pain for 25+ yrs and it’s hard for others to understand chronic and what they can’t see.”
One of the most heartfelt responses came from a follower who was suddenly deeply moved: “Thank you for sharing and reminding us fellow lupies that we have the same fears, isolation about our illnesses,” the comment read. “Hearing this felt like my journal being read out loud. It can be very lonely. Hearing you telling your story not only validates your experience but all of ours as well.” This statement further uncovers the huge value in a public figure using their voice to de-stigmatize chronic health issues. Without a doubt, vulnerable Inaba was not only justifying her absence; she created an arena for shared experience and solidarity.
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The video skipped over all heavy reflections and made room for lighter, more personal episodes in which she needed to dye her roots and complimented the glam team on a flawless look. “I’m feeling great. You’re feeling great. We’re all going to be great,” she told her followers. The whole message of the video rose beyond a simple explanation for a missed show; it became a lesson in grace, self-compassion, and finding joy in unexpected places. After 20 years of being a judge, Carrie Ann Inaba has rediscovered a fan’s sweet joy-the product of having put her health first. Her journey has also been covered in a related post about her anxiety. The show also featured a memorable performance by Corey Feldman, and even Maggie Sajak was spotted enjoying a night out at the show.