“Dancing with the Stars” pro Pasha Pashkov slammed judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s “unfair” criticism of her dancing with partner Danielle Fishel.
The dance duo performed a jive on Tuesday’s “Dedication Night,” paying tribute to William “Bill” Daniels, who played the beloved Mr. Feeny on “Boy Meets World.”
But Inaba was unimpressed with the routine, saying it felt like “watching the same dance over and over again” every week, to loud boos from the audience.
She also specifically noted that Pashkov, 39, lacks “diversity in terms of dynamics.”
“I wasn’t happy,” Pashkov told Variety on Tuesday in response to the criticism. “I’ve always tended to be defensive. To me, that comment felt unfair, especially since she said they danced similarly.”
“But actually, this week we had a quickstep and we had a jive. Those two dances are very similar,” he explained.
“If we had dramatically different dances and they felt the same way, I think it would be understandable. But based on the dances we danced, I just didn’t think it meant anything to me. I know how hard Danielle is trying, so in my heart I’m overprotective. I don’t think she deserves that comment,” he concluded.
Fishel, 44, also claimed that her and her partner’s series premiere dance was one of a more serious tone and had some variety, unlike the more upbeat dances that have followed.
“My Tango was the story of me overcoming breast cancer. It was also the first episode of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ where people were reintroduced to me,” she said.
Ms. Fishel was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in August 2024, completed treatment in January 2025, and is currently in remission.
“There was no way I was going to let my first week go by without smiling and expressing my feelings,” she explained. “So I did the tango with a smile, then I did the cha-cha with a smile, then I did the quickstep with a smile, and tonight I did the jive with a smile.”
The “Girl Meets World” star, who had previously expressed her gratitude for the judges’ critiques, acknowledged that Inaba’s assessment was “not wrong,” but teased that her review was “the perfect setting for[their]Argentine tango,” which she plans to perform on next week’s “Wicked Night.”
Despite criticism from Inaba, the routine was loved by fans and meant a lot to Fishel, who shared some kind messages to Daniels on Instagram before Tuesday’s episode, saying she’s still “taking notes from Mr. Feeney.”
“I don’t think I would have been able to be the professional I am today if I hadn’t been able to watch him for all those years,” Fishel exclaimed before the dance. “It’s been more than 30 years since we met, and I can see how proud he is of me. He’s someone who is really important to me.”
The routine, set to the “Boy Meets World” theme song, began with the 98-year-old Daniels standing in front of a school set that DWTS production staff had built for the special night.
He also appeared in the dance duo’s pre-recorded interview package that aired before the performance, telling Fishel, “I’m so proud of everything Danielle does. It’s fun to watch you.”
