'Dancing With the Stars' 2014: Julianne Hough Won't Be 'Mean Or Malicious' Judge, Though She Will Be 'Honest' [VIDEO]
New Dancing With the Stars judge Julianne Hough is ensuring that she will not be a mean judge, despite her reputation for giving slightly harsh criticism.
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Hough recently spoke to People about her upcoming judging role on DWTS, where she will join Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli.
"My role is to encourage and be supportive, and to also be candid and honest and try not to beat around the bush, to be too politically correct," Hough told People. "I want to give critiques so they can improve. I'm not there to be harsh or cause a controversy. I won't be mean or malicious. That's not who I am. That's not my role at all."
Hough previously received criticism after her guest judging gig in Season 17 when her critique of Christina Milian and Mark Ballas seemed to get a little personal with the latter (featured below). She had told Milian that dancing with Ballas, you sometimes have to fight to be seen, implying that Ballas may show off too much with his own moves.
As for why she decided to take on the new permanent judging role, she told People that she wanted to go back to where it all started.
"After being on tour with my brother [DWTS pro Derek Hough], it felt like time to move on," she said. "I felt like I really reconnected with fans, and the people have supported me since day one. They have followed me from Dancing with the Stars to my other aspirations. It just feels like the perfect time to reconnect and be a part of where it all began, with my family."
Julianne was a dancer on DWTS from Season 4-8, winning her first two seasons with Apolo Anton Ohno and Hélio Castroneves, respectively.
Dancing With the Stars Season 19 begins Monday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. on ABC.
