TL;DR
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Jimmy Kimmel defended his sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez after some Dancing With the Stars viewers criticized his continued run and alleged the competition was rigged. Kimmel said the show is entertainment rather than a professional dance contest, and argued that Rodriguez’s performance and the joy it brings viewers are part of the point.
Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez against criticism of his run on Dancing With the Stars during his Oct. 7 monologue, rejecting viewers’ allegations that the competition is rigged and arguing that the show rewards entertainment, not just technical dancing. The remarks followed online complaints from viewers who believe Rodriguez should have been eliminated.
Kimmel addressed the criticism directly on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, saying that some viewers were unhappy with Rodriguez’s continued presence on the show and had accused the competition of being fixed. “The competition isn’t rigged,” Kimmel said, adding jokingly that “life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.” He also told Rodriguez that online detractors were trying to bring him down.
During the monologue, Kimmel played videos and read social media posts critical of Rodriguez. He argued that viewers should not treat the program like a high-stakes athletic contest. “This is not the Olympics,” he said, adding that the show is not a professional dance competition. Kimmel’s view was that Dancing With the Stars is an entertainment show, and that the winning team should be the one that entertains audiences most.
Kimmel also praised Rodriguez for working hard at a skill he said does not come naturally to him. He joked about the physical comedy in Rodriguez’s recent samba, including how much time the dance appeared to involve rolling on the floor. Rodriguez took the teasing in stride, replying to Kimmel, “Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
The debate / Entertainment vs. technique
Why Jimmy Kimmel Is Pushing Back on Guillermo’s “DWTS” Critics
After viewers questioned Guillermo Rodriguez’s continued run and alleged the contest was rigged, Kimmel defended his sidekick’s effort—and argued that entertainment is part of the point.
“The competition isn’t rigged. Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.”Jimmy Kimmel · Oct. 7 monologue
01 / What Kimmel argued
Two ways to judge a dance show
The disagreement is about what viewers think the competition should reward: polished technique, or the broader entertainment a contestant brings.
Dance quality & advancement
Some viewers focused on performance and whether Rodriguez should have been eliminated. Kimmel read critical posts and showed clips during the monologue.
Effort & entertainment
He said this is not the Olympics or a professional dance contest. In his view, the team that entertains audiences most should win.
02 / The monologue’s sequence
From online criticism to a defense
Kimmel answered the backlash in a comedic exchange, while rejecting the rigging allegation and praising Rodriguez’s work.
Criticism circulates
Some online viewers questioned Guillermo’s continued place in the competition.
Kimmel responds
He read posts and showed videos, saying the competition was not rigged.
The samba gets a joke
Kimmel teased the dance’s floor rolling and praised the effort behind it.
Guillermo plays along
“It was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up,” Rodriguez replied.
03 / The samba exchange
A joke that made the point
The lighthearted teasing sat alongside Kimmel’s defense of Rodriguez’s commitment to a skill he said did not come naturally.
“Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”Replying to Kimmel’s floor-work joke
Performance is part of the conversation
Kimmel joked that the recent samba seemed to involve plenty of rolling on the floor. He also emphasized Rodriguez’s hard work and the joy viewers get from watching him.
The exchange shows why audiences may assess a contestant in more than one way, even when the conversation starts with dance technique.
04 / What the account establishes
The debate is clear; the numbers aren’t
Kimmel stated his view of the show’s purpose. The reported details do not document how voting and judging combine in the results.
What viewers are debating
These bars illustrate the two arguments described in the account. They are not vote totals, scores, or measured audience preferences.
Details not reported
Kimmel denied the rigging claim; his monologue does not document voting procedures or establish how widely the online criticism is shared.
05 / What happens next
More performances will add context
The listed schedule gives viewers a way to follow the season, but the account does not identify the next vote or elimination date.
Dancing With the Stars
Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on ABC and Disney+.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Weeknights at 11:35 p.m. Eastern and 10:35 p.m. Central on ABC.
Results & response
Future performances may show whether Rodriguez advances. No upcoming result or producer response is included here.
Entertainment Versus Dance Technique
Kimmel’s defense highlights a familiar tension in Dancing With the Stars: viewers may judge contestants by different standards. Some focus on dance ability and performance quality, while others value a celebrity’s personality, effort, humor or ability to make the show entertaining. Kimmel made that distinction explicit, describing the contest as a television entertainment program rather than a professional dance championship.
The remarks also put a public response to online criticism at the center of the story. Kimmel did not present evidence that the voting process was manipulated; he rejected the allegation and framed Rodriguez’s appeal as part of the entertainment. His comments make clear why the criticism matters to the people involved: the show’s audience response can shape how viewers assess a contestant’s place in the competition, while personal attacks can spill beyond discussion of the dancing.
For viewers, the debate is not only about whether Rodriguez dances well enough to advance. It is also about what they think the show is meant to reward. Kimmel’s argument offers one interpretation, but the monologue does not establish that all viewers share it or explain how the program’s voting and judging weigh different factors.
dance competition entertainment costume
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Rodriguez’s Season 35 Run
Rodriguez is competing on Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars while also working as Kimmel’s sidekick. The supplied account describes him as a fan favorite and says criticism has accompanied the support he has received. It does not give vote totals, standings or details about how the audience’s response compares with other contestants.
Kimmel’s remarks came after Rodriguez performed a samba. The host showed clips from that dance and joked that Rodriguez spent more time rolling on the floor than dancing. The exchange remained lighthearted between the two: Rodriguez answered the joke with a quip about being comfortable on the floor, while Kimmel used the moment to praise the effort he said his sidekick was putting into each week’s performances.
The schedule listed for the programs is Dancing With the Stars on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time on ABC and Disney+, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! on weeknights at 11:35 p.m. Eastern and 10:35 p.m. Central on ABC. Those listings provide the broadcast context for the comments, but do not specify when the next vote or elimination will take place.
“The competition isn’t rigged. Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.”
— Jimmy Kimmel
Voting Details Remain Unreported
The account of Kimmel’s monologue does not provide DWTS voting totals, the contestants’ standings, or a breakdown of how judges’ scores and audience votes contribute to results. It also does not identify the viewers making the rigging allegations or offer evidence supporting them. Kimmel denied that the competition was rigged, but his comments alone do not document the show’s voting procedures.
It is also unclear how Rodriguez will fare in later rounds or whether the criticism will affect audience support. No future results or response from the show’s producers are included in the reported details. The online posts Kimmel referenced are presented as examples of criticism, not as a measure of how widely that view is held.
Next Performances and Results
Season 35 continues with new performances and competition results. Rodriguez’s next appearance and the eventual outcome will show whether he advances, but the reported account does not provide a date for his next dance or an upcoming elimination. Viewers can watch the show Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time on ABC and Disney+.
Kimmel’s defense has made his position clear: he believes the show’s entertainment value is a valid reason for a contestant to win. The next performances and results will give viewers more to judge, while questions about the specific voting figures and the reach of the online backlash remain unanswered in the available account.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
Key Questions
What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Guillermo Rodriguez’s DWTS critics?
Kimmel defended Rodriguez during his Oct. 7 monologue, pushed back on online attacks and said the show is an entertainment competition rather than a professional dance contest.
Did Kimmel say DWTS was rigged?
No. Kimmel said, “The competition isn’t rigged,” responding to allegations he said some viewers had made.
Why does Kimmel think Rodriguez should remain in the competition?
Kimmel praised Rodriguez’s effort and argued that the show is meant to entertain, so a contestant’s appeal to viewers matters alongside dance technique. He did not provide vote totals or details about the scoring system.
What dance did Rodriguez perform before Kimmel’s comments?
The account says Kimmel showed clips of Rodriguez’s recent samba and joked about the amount of floor work in the performance.
When can viewers watch Dancing With the Stars?
The schedule listed is Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time on ABC and Disney+. The reported details do not specify the date of Rodriguez’s next performance.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
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