How Carrie Ann Inaba Reacted To Tom Bergeron's Firing

The Talk co-host Carrie Ann Inaba knows a thing or two about ABC's Dancing With the Stars, as she has been a judge on the show alongside Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman since 2005. So when the news broke in July 2020 that ABC gave the boot to longtime hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews, it's no surprise Inaba had something to say about the development.

But before we dive deep into Inaba's reaction, let's revisit what Bergeron and Andrews had to say. "I will always cherish my days on set, even if I wasn't the best at walking in heels," Andrews tweeted in part, while Bergeron said, "It's been an incredible 15-year run and the most unexpected gift of my career. I'm grateful for that and for the lifelong friendships made."

Of course, one of the "lifelong friendships" Bergeron made was with Inaba. As such, the Hawaii native's reaction to the DWTS firings was full of emotion.

As one can imagine, the realization that Erin Andrews and Tom Bergeron won't return for Season 29 of Dancing With the Stars has rocked Carrie Anna Inaba hard. Sharing her rock during an episode of The Talk, Inaba explained, "I feel like it was just such sudden news. My heart breaks for Tom and Erin." She continued, "I cried when I heard the news, as well as, I think a lot of our fans did."

To put Inaba's heartache into context, she has worked with Bergeron since 2005, while Andrews joined the show as a contestant in Season 10 and later became a co-host for Season 18. So it's fair to argue Andrews and Bergeron are more than just colleagues to Inaba at this point.

Although Inaba is sad to see the hosts go, she doesn't want fans to worry about her and the other judges. "That is the plan, that we're coming back. But they're going make the official announcement in a few weeks. They're just going to keep letting us know all the details," she revealed. "I don't want people to worry. It seems like everything is OK."

Shortly after Erin Andrews and Tom Bergeron's departures went public, Tyra Banks was named Dancing With the Star's new host. "I've been a fan of DWTS since its beginning," Banks said in a statement, per Billboard. "The fun mixed with raw emotion, seeing celebrities push past their comfort zones, the sizzling dance performances... it's always transported me to my days of turning it up 10 notches on the catwalk. Tom has set a powerful stage, and I'm excited to continue the legacy and put on my executive producer and hosting hats."

Although Banks' message was arguably kind, it's fair to wonder whether Carrie Anna Inaba felt salty about the model taking over. "I think it has to do with all that Tyra Banks is," Inaba reasoned about why Banks got the role. "All the energy she has. She's like a visionary, she's a strong, powerful woman. I think we're in good hands. It's different, the fans are going to have to get used to it, I understand that, but I think we should welcome her."

Talk about a diplomatic and fair response. It sounds like Inaba is down with the change overall!

As Carrie Ann Inaba mentioned during her chat on The Talk, she plans on returning for Dancing With the Stars Season 29. But how long does Inaba plan on hanging around the show? As she revealed during a February 2019 interview with the Build Series, she hopes the series lasts until Season 30 and possibly beyond. "It's nice," the judge said about the series, per Cinema Blend. "I think we're familiar to people and in this day and age when there's so much turmoil going on in the world people want something that makes them feel comfortable, familiar, and safe."

She continued, according to HuffPost, "We don't get too controversial. We keep it to the point. Great dancing. Fun. It's good old-fashioned entertainment. We get to see people trying something new, which I always think is inspirational. I, myself, get inspired by people on the show who have big careers and they are willing to risk ego to come and dance ... It reminds us all that it's OK to fail and get back up. I think that's the message of the show — to get out there and try something new. I think we all get stuck in our comfort zones. And I'm proud to be a part of that show, encouraging people to try new things."

With that attitude, we have a feeling Carrie Ann Inaba will make it through the show's changes just fine.