Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba had an awkward exchange with pro dancer Jenna Johnson during Tuesday’s Super Bowl Night episode after criticizing a lift in Johnson and Harry Shum Jr.’s samba. The tense moment left the live audience silent as Johnson appeared surprised by the judge’s comments.

Johnson and Shum Jr., 44, performed a samba to Usher’s hit Yeah! during the October 13 episode. Although Inaba said she “loved every minute” of their performance, she also told the Glee actor that he needed to “put more content in your dances.” She then pointed out that the routine included a lift, which prompted a surprised reaction from Johnson.

“A lift?” the 32-year-old dancer asked.

“Yeah, it was a lift,” Inaba replied before reading the technical definition from a piece of paper. She explained that a lift is any movement in which one dancer has both feet off the floor at the same time with the help or support of their partner.

“Yeah, lift,” Inaba repeated, making her point clear. Johnson shook her head in response, and the audience grew noticeably quiet during the uncomfortable exchange.

Fellow judge Derek Hough appeared caught off guard by the moment, joking, “Dang. I feel like I got told off.” Inaba responded, “I will meet you where you are.”

Hough went on to praise Johnson and Shum Jr. for delivering a “fantastic performance,” with Inaba heard agreeing with his assessment. Despite the disagreement over the lift, the pair received a total of 33 out of 40 points from the judges.

When Johnson and Shum Jr. reached the skybox, co-host Julianne Hough asked Johnson how she felt about Inaba’s criticism. The pro dancer explained that she had understood the rules differently but accepted the feedback.

“I thought it was if you lifted your partner,” Johnson said. “But I totally hear Carrie Ann. I will take it. Sure.”

Shum Jr. was thrilled with their score, celebrating the chance to dance to an Usher song on Super Bowl Night. “Oh my god, amazing,” he said. “It’s a dream come true. We got Usher, we got Super Bowl Halftime Show. We did it!” Johnson then told her partner how proud she was of him.

However, Johnson was not the only contestant to have a tense moment with Inaba that night. Earlier in the episode, the judge also confronted Guillermo Rodriguez after he and pro partner Witney Carson performed a salsa to Bad Bunny’s Tití Me Preguntó.

During their pre-performance package, Rodriguez, 55, recalled receiving tough feedback from Inaba after his samba on Mariah Carey Night the previous week. He said he had wanted to explain that samba involved many steps and wondered whether the judge might have been having a bad day.

After their salsa, Inaba addressed his comments directly.

“Guillermo, did you just call me out? If you’re gonna call me out, you better bring the goods,” she told him.

“I did,” Rodriguez admitted.

Inaba then praised the Jimmy Kimmel Live! comedian for bringing “the joy back” with what she described as his hardest routine yet. Despite the positive feedback, Rodriguez and Carson were eliminated at the end of the episode after surviving four previous elimination rounds.

The two exchanges made for some of the night’s most uncomfortable moments, with Inaba standing firm on her critiques while the dancers reacted to her comments. Dancing With the Stars Season 35 continues Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams on Disney+.