Tensions ran high on Dancing With The Stars after judge Derek Hough described Robert Irwin and his partner’s shirtless salsa as “stiff and lacking fluidity.” While many viewers agreed the routine felt a bit restrained, others accused Hough of being overly harsh — especially since the performance had become one of the most talked-about of the night.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Derek-Hough-022624-087489e51aaa4736a3862625ab95d8ae.jpg)
When the crowd began to boo during the live taping, Hough was visibly annoyed. Later, in a backstage interview, he defended his critique, saying, “I judge what I see, not the hype. Technique matters — even when shirts come off.” However, the backlash online quickly escalated, with fans calling him “a hater” and “jealous” of the young wildlife star’s newfound sex-symbol image.
By the following morning, Hough hit back on social media, posting a fiery message: “Call me whatever you want, but if you cross the line, I’ll see you in court.” The post has since gone viral, dividing the fandom even further. Meanwhile, Robert Irwin has remained silent, simply reposting fan clips of the performance with the caption “Proud of this one.”
