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 October 7 monologue, Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez amid online criticism of the comedian’s run on Dancing With the Stars. Kimmel rejected claims that the competition is rigged and argued that the show is entertainment, while Rodriguez joked about his recent samba.
Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez during his October 7 monologue after some viewers criticized Rodriguez’s performances on Dancing With the Stars and questioned whether the competition was rigged. Kimmel said the show is entertainment rather than a professional dance contest, and argued that Rodriguez’s work and ability to amuse viewers are part of his appeal.
Kimmel addressed the complaints on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, acknowledging that not everyone was pleased with Rodriguez’s progress in the competition. “There have been some accusations suggesting that the competition is rigged,” he said, before rejecting that claim. He joked that “life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor,” adding that viewers were supporting his friend despite online efforts to bring him down.
The host also played videos and read social media posts criticizing Rodriguez. He pushed back by comparing the show with events where winning carries serious responsibilities: “This is not the Olympics. This is not SEAL Team 6.” Kimmel said the competition does not have those stakes and described its prize as a small trophy rather than a major professional distinction.
Kimmel’s central argument was that Dancing With the Stars is an entertainment show, not a professional dance championship. “The winner should be whatever team is most entertaining,” he said. He praised Rodriguez for working hard despite dancing not coming naturally to him, then joked about the physicality of his performances. Rodriguez responded in good humor after a clip of his recent samba, telling Kimmel, “Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
Entertainment • The debate behind the dance
Guillermo Faces ‘DWTS’ Criticism, and Jimmy Kimmel Speaks Up
After viewers questioned Guillermo Rodriguez’s performances and the fairness of the contest, Kimmel defended his friend—and argued that entertainment belongs in the scorecard.
The exchange
What happened on the show
Kimmel acknowledged that some viewers were unhappy with Rodriguez’s progress, played critical posts, and rejected the suggestion that the competition was rigged.
Online criticism
Some viewers questioned Rodriguez’s performances and argued he should leave the competition.
Kimmel responds
He pushed back on the rigging accusation and urged viewers not to attack his colleague.
He reframes the prize
Kimmel described the program as entertainment, not an elite dance championship.
Guillermo jokes back
After a samba clip, Rodriguez quipped that he was so comfortable he did not want to get up.
Two ways to judge
Dance scores meet entertainment value
The disagreement is about what viewers believe the show rewards. Technique and improvement matter to some; personality, effort, and the fun of watching matter to others.
Performance
Viewers may focus on dance technique, progress, and whether a contestant’s performance merits staying in the contest.
Entertainment
He argued that Rodriguez’s ability to amuse audiences is a real part of the show’s appeal.
What should count?
The exchange turns one samba into a broader debate about how fans define a deserving winner.
In their own words
Comedy, defense, and a samba punchline
“This is not the Olympics. This is not SEAL Team 6.”Jimmy Kimmel
“The winner should be whatever team is most entertaining.”Jimmy Kimmel
“Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”Guillermo Rodriguez · on his samba
“Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.”Jimmy Kimmel · joking about support for his friend
What the account establishes
Claims, context, and open questions
Reported in the monologue
- Kimmel rejected claims that the competition was rigged.
- He praised Rodriguez’s effort and his appeal as an entertainer.
- Rodriguez responded with a joke after Kimmel teased his samba.
Not provided in the account
- Voting rules, vote totals, or an independent verification process.
- A producer statement, the scale of the criticism, or Rodriguez’s precise standing.
- Any result or later elimination connected to the monologue.
The competition continues
Rodriguez’s future depends on the contest’s ongoing results. The account confirms no outcome beyond the episode discussed.
ABC and Disney+
Quick answers
Key questions
What did Kimmel say about Guillermo?
He defended Rodriguez against online criticism, praised his effort, and said entertainment should count alongside dancing.
Did Kimmel say the show was rigged?
No. He acknowledged the accusation and rejected it. The account provides no voting records or independent review.
What was Guillermo’s samba reply?
“Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
When can viewers watch?
The program information lists Dancing With the Stars on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on ABC and Disney+.
Entertainment Versus Dance Scores
The exchange highlights a tension built into Dancing With the Stars: viewers may weigh dance technique, improvement, personality and entertainment value differently when deciding who deserves to stay. Kimmel made the case that Rodriguez’s appeal and the enjoyment he brings to viewers are legitimate parts of the competition, rather than reasons to dismiss his place in it.
His comments also give a prominent public response to criticism aimed at Rodriguez online. Kimmel urged viewers not to attack his colleague, while keeping the remarks within the show’s comedic tone. The discussion matters to fans because it frames the disagreement as more than a debate about one samba: it is also about what audiences believe the program rewards.
At the same time, Kimmel’s defense is an argument about the show’s purpose, not evidence about how votes are counted. His rejection of the rigging accusation is clear, but the account of the monologue does not provide voting records or other documentation independently establishing the competition’s procedures.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Rodriguez’s Run on Season 35
The reported episode concerns Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars, in which Rodriguez has attracted strong fan support while also drawing criticism from viewers who believe he should have been eliminated. The available account does not specify the number of contestants remaining or Rodriguez’s precise standing in the competition at the time of Kimmel’s monologue.
Kimmel is Rodriguez’s employer and friend: Rodriguez is a longtime member of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! team. That relationship helps explain why Kimmel addressed the online reaction on his own program. His monologue combined support with teasing, including jokes about Rodriguez spending more time on the floor than dancing during his samba.
The segment also placed the criticism in the context of the show’s format. Kimmel argued that viewers should judge contestants as entertainers, not only as dancers. The account describes his remarks and Rodriguez’s response, but does not include a statement from the show’s producers or a detailed explanation of its voting rules.
“This is an entertainment show. The winner should be whatever team is most entertaining.”
— Jimmy Kimmel
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Voting Claims and Results
No evidence supporting the rigging accusation is presented in the account of Kimmel’s monologue, and it does not establish that the competition is rigged. Kimmel rejected the claim, but the specific voting rules, vote totals and any verification process are not detailed there. The account also does not identify the viewers who made the accusation or establish how widespread it is.
It is also unclear how Rodriguez’s performance and fan support will affect his future in the contest. No result or subsequent elimination is reported in connection with the monologue. The criticism cited is described generally; the account does not quantify how many viewers objected or provide a broader measure of audience sentiment.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Competition Continues
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on ABC and Disney+, according to the program information accompanying the report. Rodriguez’s standing will depend on the competition’s ongoing results; no outcome beyond the episode discussed in Kimmel’s monologue is confirmed here.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs weeknights on ABC. Further developments to watch include Rodriguez’s next performance and whether the show or its producers address questions about voting. Until more information is available, Kimmel’s remarks remain a defense of Rodriguez and a comedic rejection of the online accusations, not a published audit of the contest.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Guillermo Rodriguez?
Kimmel defended Rodriguez against online criticism, praised his effort and said Dancing With the Stars is an entertainment show where the most entertaining team should win.
Did Kimmel say that Dancing With the Stars is rigged?
No. Kimmel said there had been accusations that the competition was rigged, then rejected the claim. The account of his monologue does not include voting records or an independent review of the process.
What did Guillermo Rodriguez say about his samba?
After Kimmel joked that he spent more time rolling on the floor than dancing, Rodriguez replied: “Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
When can viewers watch Dancing With the Stars?
The program information accompanying the report lists the show on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on ABC and Disney+.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
