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Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez on his Oct. 7 Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue after some viewers criticized Rodriguez’s progress on Dancing With the Stars and alleged the competition was rigged. Kimmel argued that the show is entertainment, praised Rodriguez’s effort and said the most entertaining team should win.
Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez against online criticism of his Dancing With the Stars run during his Oct. 7 monologue, rejecting claims that the competition is rigged and arguing that the show is an entertainment program, not a professional dance contest. Kimmel also praised Rodriguez’s work in rehearsal and onstage as the debate over his progress drew attention online.
Kimmel said on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that some viewers were unhappy with Rodriguez’s continued presence on the show and had made accusations of unfairness. “The competition isn’t rigged,” he said, adding that “life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor” as a joke about his colleague’s popularity. Kimmel did not cite evidence for the allegations or describe a specific voting dispute.
During the monologue, Kimmel played clips and read social media posts criticizing Rodriguez. He pushed back by comparing the program with high-stakes competitions, saying, “This is not the Olympics. This is not SEAL Team 6.” He characterized the show as entertainment and said the winning team should be the one audiences find most entertaining, rather than treating the outcome as a measure of professional dance skill.
Kimmel also singled out Rodriguez’s effort, saying dancing did not come naturally to him and that he had been working hard each week. He joked about Rodriguez’s samba routine, including its floor work, and Rodriguez responded that it had been so comfortable he did not want to get up. The exchange framed the criticism as part of a broader disagreement about how viewers should judge a celebrity dance competition.
The Debate Over DWTS Voting
Kimmel’s response puts the disagreement over Rodriguez’s run in terms of what viewers expect from DWTS: a contest judged mainly on dance ability, or an entertainment show where personality and audience appeal also matter. His argument was that the program’s purpose supports voting for the most entertaining team, even when that team is not the most technically accomplished.
The criticism also highlights the tension that can arise when a contestant attracts strong fan support. Viewers who believe the competition should reward dance performance may object when popularity appears to carry weight. Kimmel defended Rodriguez, but his comments do not establish whether any voting rules were violated or settle how the show’s audience should weigh entertainment against technique.
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Rodriguez’s Season 35 Run
Rodriguez is Kimmel’s colleague and a contestant on Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars. The Yahoo Entertainment report describes him as a fan favorite and says backlash has accompanied the support he has received. Kimmel’s monologue followed Rodriguez’s performance of a samba, which he discussed through clips and jokes.
The program pairs public figures with professional dancers and combines performances with audience voting and judges’ feedback. Kimmel used the title itself—Dancing With the Stars, rather than “Dancing With the Professionals”—to make the case that entertainment is part of the contest. The available reporting does not provide a full breakdown of scores, votes or the specific posts Kimmel read.
“The competition isn’t rigged. Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.”
— Jimmy Kimmel, on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Voting Claims Remain Unverified
The available account does not identify who made the rigging allegations, provide details supporting them or report any official finding about the show’s voting. Kimmel rejected the claim during his monologue, but the report does not include a statement from the program, ABC or Disney+ addressing the accusation.
It is also unclear how Rodriguez’s performance scores and audience votes compare with those of other contestants, or how much each has contributed to his progress. The report gives no vote totals, elimination results or detailed judging figures. Online criticism and Kimmel’s defense do not, by themselves, establish whether the competition is fair or unfair.
The Competition Continues Tuesdays
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is scheduled to air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time on ABC and Disney+. Rodriguez’s next performances and the show’s subsequent results will determine whether he advances, but the account does not give a specific upcoming milestone beyond the regular broadcast schedule.
Kimmel’s remarks do not change the competition’s format or results. Further clarity about the backlash would depend on additional reporting, specific evidence about voting, or a response from the show’s representatives. Until then, the rigging allegation remains an unverified claim, while Kimmel’s comments are his defense of his colleague and his view of the program’s entertainment-first appeal.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
Key Questions
What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Guillermo Rodriguez’s DWTS run?
Kimmel defended Rodriguez during his Oct. 7 monologue, rejected claims that the competition was rigged and said the show is entertainment rather than a professional dance contest.
Why has Rodriguez faced criticism?
The Yahoo Entertainment report says some viewers believe Rodriguez should have been eliminated by now and have criticized his progress. Kimmel played clips and read social media posts from detractors, but the report does not identify the individual commenters.
Did Kimmel provide proof that DWTS voting is fair?
No. He dismissed the rigging accusation in his monologue, but the report does not include vote totals, an official investigation or a statement from the show’s representatives.
What did Guillermo say in response?
After Kimmel joked about the floor work in Rodriguez’s samba, Rodriguez replied, “Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
When does Dancing With the Stars air?
Season 35 airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time on ABC and Disney+, according to the report.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
