Carrie Ann Inaba says she gets ‘more hate’ than male ‘DWTS’ judges

Carrie Ann Inaba gets realistic about the challenges of being the only female judge Dancing with the stars.

“There have been times when I almost walked away,” Inaba, 55, said during the meeting Variety Women Of Reality TV event in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, November 29 per footage shared via social media. “As the only female judge for most seasons, I get a lot more hate than the men.”

Inaba became emotional along with other members of the “Legacy Panel.” Cirie fields, Kyle Richards, Kandi Burrus, Sasha Colby And Jenni “JWoww” Farley. “I am the judge who is crying, yes that is true,” Inaba said as she burst into tears. “People doubt what I say. … I feel like I have to fight harder to have my opinion respected.”

The first Women of Reality TV event coincides with the debut of Variety’s Most Powerful Women on Reality TV impact listwhich lists Inaba as an honoree.

“I appreciate you having this moment for the women in the company,” Inaba added. “We all carry a burden that’s a little different and I’m so honored for you to see that.”

Inaba is one DWTS has been judging since his debut in 2005 and is not afraid to provide bold and honest criticism to participants. “The biggest misconception about me is that what I do is easy. I don’t know many people in this industry who have kept a job for 32 seasons,” she said Variety earlier this month. “What I do is complex and it takes courage. I show up and speak my truth in front of millions of people, and then I’m accountable for it.”

Inaba’s panel appearance came a day after she celebrated the remaining couples DWTS after the exciting performances in the semi-final on Tuesday, November 28. At the end of the episode it was announced that all five couples – Ariana Madix And Pasha Pashkov, Xochitl Gomez And Val Chmerkovskiy, Charity Lawson And Artem Chigvintsev, Jason Mraz And Daniella Karagach And Alyson Hannigan And Sasha Farber – would compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in the season 32 finale.

“It was an exciting end to a spectacular and quite emotional semi-final,” said Inaba Entertainment weekly after Tuesday’s live show. “This is the first time we have had five couples in the final, making for a very competitive final round of dancing.”

Related: From Carrie Ann to Julianne Hough! ‘DWTS’ judges through the years

The judges have spoken! Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli have been fixtures on the Dancing With the Stars judges’ table since day one – but they’re not the only stars who have weighed in on the contestants’ performances. Since the show’s inception in 2005, the trio of judges has been joined by a variety of judges […]

Inaba is accompanied by fellow judges Derek Hough And Bruno Tonioli. After the grand semi-final, it’s all about cohost Julianne Hough informed viewers, “All scores and votes from tonight’s judges will carry over to next week’s scores and votes to determine our new champions.”

The Dancing with the stars The season 32 finale airs on ABC Tuesday, December 5 at 8pm ET.