TL;DR
Get your wardrobe favorites delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
On his Oct. 7 show, Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez after viewers criticized his continued run on Dancing With the Stars and alleged the competition was rigged. Kimmel said the program is an entertainment show and praised Rodriguez’s effort; the account does not establish whether the show or its judges responded to the criticism.
Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez on his Oct. 7 monologue after viewers criticized Rodriguez’s continued run on Dancing With the Stars and some accused the competition of being rigged. Kimmel argued that the ABC and Disney+ program is an entertainment show, not a professional dance contest, and said Rodriguez’s performances were bringing viewers joy.
Kimmel acknowledged that not everyone was pleased with Rodriguez’s progress on the show. He referenced online comments and videos from viewers who said Rodriguez should have been eliminated, as well as allegations that the competition was rigged. The account of the monologue does not provide details about the commenters or establish that the allegations were supported by evidence.
In response, Kimmel said the competition was not rigged, then joked that “Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.” He framed the disagreement around what the program rewards, arguing that viewers should not treat it as an Olympic event or a professional dance championship. “This is an entertainment show,” he said. “The winner should be whatever team is most entertaining.”
Kimmel also praised Rodriguez for working hard each week, saying dancing did not come naturally to his longtime sidekick. During the segment, Kimmel played footage of Rodriguez’s samba and teased how much time he spent on the floor. Rodriguez answered in the same light tone, telling Kimmel, “It was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
THE MONOLOGUE • OCTOBER 7
Jimmy Kimmel Shuts Down Guillermo’s ‘DWTS’ Critics
After viewers questioned Guillermo Rodriguez’s continued run on Dancing With the Stars and alleged the competition was rigged, Kimmel defended his sidekick’s effort and framed the show as entertainment.
“The winner should be whatever team is most entertaining.”Jimmy Kimmel’s view of the show
THE KEY DISTINCTION
Kimmel’s defense was his characterization of the program—not an explanation of its voting rules or proof about any result.
What Kimmel Answered
His monologue paired a defense of Rodriguez with jokes about the samba that prompted the discussion.
01 / THE CRITICISM
Calls for elimination
Some viewers reportedly said Rodriguez should have left the competition. The account does not identify commenters or quantify the reaction.
02 / THE RESPONSE
“It isn’t rigged”
Kimmel rejected the allegation, then joked: “Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.” The remark does not independently establish how votes were counted.
03 / THE DEFENSE
Entertainment matters
Kimmel said the show is not an Olympic event or professional dance championship, and praised Rodriguez for working hard each week.
One Show, Different Measures
The disagreement centers on what viewers think a competition show should reward.
Kimmel’s framing
He argued that Dancing With the Stars is an entertainment show, where the most entertaining team can deserve to win.
Illustrative summary of Kimmel’s argument, not measured scoring criteria.
In Kimmel’s words
“This is not the Olympics. This is not SEAL Team 6.”
His point was about the show’s entertainment purpose; it does not describe the official judging or voting formula.
The Samba Exchange
Kimmel played footage, poked fun at Rodriguez’s time on the floor, and his sidekick answered in kind.
A samba airs
Kimmel showed a clip of Rodriguez’s performance.
The tease
Kimmel joked that he spent plenty of time rolling on the floor.
Guillermo replies
“It was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
The tone
The exchange reflected their familiar boss-and-sidekick rapport.
What the Account Leaves Open
Kimmel’s remarks do not settle the factual questions behind the online claims.
VOTING
No totals provided
The report gives no vote counts or detailed explanation of the competition’s voting process.
EVIDENCE
No support cited
The rigging allegation is described, but no evidence is supplied. Kimmel’s denial is not an independent audit.
NEXT STEPS
Outcome unknown
The account does not say how long Rodriguez stayed, how judges scored the samba, or whether the show responded.
Quick Questions
What can be said from the reported segment—and what cannot?
Why did viewers criticize Rodriguez?
Some reportedly argued he should have been eliminated. The account does not name them or establish how widespread the criticism was.
Did Kimmel say the show was rigged?
No. He said the competition was not rigged, then made a joke about life favoring Guillermo.
Did the show change its format?
No format or voting-system change was announced in Kimmel’s remarks.
When did the show air?
The report listed Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on ABC and Disney+. That schedule reflects the time of publication.
The Debate Over DWTS’s Purpose
Kimmel’s defense highlights a recurring tension in a competition show that combines judges’ assessments, audience voting and entertainment value. Viewers can disagree about whether a contestant’s dancing merits another week, while the format also invites audiences to connect with contestants and respond to their personalities and performances.
His comments matter because they put the criticism of Rodriguez into the larger question of what “winning” means on Dancing With the Stars. Kimmel’s view was that the show should not be judged as though it were a professional dance competition. That is his characterization of the program, not a statement about the voting rules or a finding that any particular result was fair or unfair.
The segment also brought the online backlash into a mainstream television monologue. Kimmel condemned personal attacks on Rodriguez and urged critics to stop targeting him. The account describes hostile comments but does not document their scale, identify the people who posted them or say whether Rodriguez experienced threats.
dance competition entertainment costume
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Rodriguez’s Run on Season 35
Rodriguez was competing on Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars when Kimmel addressed the response to his performances. Kimmel’s monologue followed Rodriguez’s samba, which the late-night host showed to the audience before joking about the dancer spending more time rolling on the floor than dancing upright.
Kimmel is Rodriguez’s boss and colleague on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where Rodriguez is a familiar on-air sidekick. Their exchange reflected that relationship: Kimmel defended Rodriguez while also making jokes about his dancing, and Rodriguez responded without taking the teasing seriously.
The show’s broadcast schedule, as listed in the report, was Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on ABC and Disney+. Jimmy Kimmel Live! was listed as airing weeknights at 11:35 p.m. Eastern and 10:35 p.m. Central on ABC. Those schedules describe the programming at the time of the report, not necessarily later changes.
““This is an entertainment show. The winner should be whatever team is most entertaining.””
— Jimmy Kimmel
Voting Claims Remain Unverified
The account of Kimmel’s monologue does not provide voting totals, the competition’s detailed voting process or evidence of rigging. Kimmel rejected the allegation, but his on-air remarks do not independently establish how votes were counted or whether the criticism reflects a broader audience view.
It is also unclear how long Rodriguez remained in the competition after the Oct. 7 segment, how judges assessed his samba, or whether the show’s producers or judges addressed the online reaction. The reported comments do not specify who posted the criticism or how many viewers called for Rodriguez’s elimination.
The Competition Continues on ABC
At the time of the report, Dancing With the Stars was scheduled to continue with new episodes on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC and Disney+. Rodriguez’s subsequent standing, judges’ scores and audience-vote results were not included in the account of Kimmel’s segment.
Kimmel’s remarks did not announce a change to the show’s format or voting system. The next developments to watch are Rodriguez’s future performances and whether the program or its participants make any further public comments about the criticism or claims of rigging.
Key Questions
What did Jimmy Kimmel say about the criticism of Guillermo Rodriguez?
Kimmel defended Rodriguez against online criticism, said the competition was not rigged and described Dancing With the Stars as an entertainment show rather than a professional dance contest.
Why were viewers criticizing Guillermo Rodriguez?
Some viewers reportedly argued that Rodriguez should have been eliminated. Kimmel also referred to accusations that the competition was rigged, but the account does not identify the commenters or provide evidence for those allegations.
Did Kimmel say Dancing With the Stars was rigged?
No. Kimmel said, “The competition isn’t rigged,” then joked that life was rigged in Rodriguez’s favor. His remarks do not provide independent information about the show’s voting process.
What happened in Guillermo Rodriguez’s samba?
Kimmel played footage of Rodriguez’s samba and joked that he spent more time rolling on the floor than dancing. Rodriguez replied that the floor was comfortable and he did not want to get up.
When and where does Dancing With the Stars air?
The schedule given in the report listed the show on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC and Disney+. Schedules can change, and the report’s listing reflects the time it was published.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
![10 Things To Do For This Saturday in L.A. [7-4-2026]](https://fashionide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/10-things-to-do-for-this-saturday-in-l-a-7-4-2026-featured-380x200.jpg)
