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Carrie Ann Inaba Confirms Robb Derringer Relationship, Says ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Judges Hug Out Disagreements

By Sarah Field
Published on: 11:02 PST, Apr 10, 2016

Carrie Ann Inaba admits those arguments at the Dancing With the Stars judges table sometimes get heated but says the trio of dance experts always make up quickly after a disagreement. Writing on her Season 22 blog for Access Hollywood, Inaba compared her relationship with Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli to a romantic couple that vows to play nice after a dispute. In the case of DWTS, the judges usually get it resolved during the ad breaks.

“[W]e always hug it out in the next commercial break. It’s like that rule that couples have to not go to sleep angry. We don’t go into the next act angry at each other. We always leave the argument in the past.”

Inaba noted that the combo of herself, Goodman, and Tonioli is the show’s original panel — still holding court after twenty-two seasons. Goodman did take off Season 21, and Julianne Hough was his replacement. Their staying power has a lot to do with a shared commitment to still love one another while being passionate about their opinions after every performance. Inaba revealed the judges converse over wine after every program.

Carrie Ann might have had relationships on her mind while writing her blog. Besides invoking the “never go to bed angry” adage, she snuck in a mention of her new beau, Robb Derringer, confirming she is in love with the actor. Derringer, last seen on an 18-episode run on General Hospital, took the time to gush about Inaba on Twitter.

On April 1, The Daily Mail reported that the two celebrities were in a relationship. In her blog, Inaba said the news was true but expressed a desire to keep the couple’s personal life private.

“I feel very fortunate to be with such a wonderful human being and the love we share is something very precious to both of us. At this point, we aren’t quite ready to share the details of our love but just that we are happy to be in love.”

In March 2011, Inaba’s then-boyfriend Jesse Sloan proposed to her unexpectedly during a broadcast of Live! With Regis and Kelly. In September 2012, Us Weekly reported that the couple had split the summer of 2012 and called off the wedding. Inaba told E! Online at the time that she remained friends with Sloan, an accountant, and his daughter.

Inaba is a known animal lover — she put “I love cats” on her eHarmony questionnaire that matched her up with Sloan, according to Us Weekly — something she has in common with Derringer. In an interview with Soap Opera Spy, the actor said he had a dog, bird, and fish. He’s also physically active, often flying hang gliders and para gliders, as well as surfing, hiking and climbing.

The Daily Mail reported that Carrie Ann and Robb are both 48.

Before spilling the details on her new romance, Carrie Ann discussed the stellar performances during the “Most Memorable Year” week on Dancing With the Stars. She singled out Paige VanZant’s powerful paso doble with Mark Ballas as the best dance of the night, noting the creative choreography that combined MMA and ballroom movements. She said VanZant has to work on her upper body posture to get those 9s and 10s contestants covet, but praised the fighter’s presence on the dance floor.

“She’s an exciting performer to me. She’s a bit wild but her commitment to the movements and choreography make her performances rock solid and she shakes the roof with her power.”

VanZant and the rest of the celebrities will dance a Disney theme on Monday night. Dancing With the Stars gets underway at 8 p.m. on ABC.

[Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images]

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