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On his October 7 monologue, Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez after viewers criticized his progress on Dancing With the Stars and suggested the contest was rigged. Kimmel said the show is entertainment, while Rodriguez joked that he was comfortable during his samba routine.
Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez on his October 7 monologue after some viewers criticized the longtime Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick’s progress on Dancing With the Stars Season 35 and alleged the competition was rigged. Kimmel argued that DWTS is an entertainment program, not a professional dance contest, and said Rodriguez’s appeal and effort are part of what makes his run enjoyable.
Kimmel acknowledged that Rodriguez has attracted both enthusiastic support and negative online comments. He said some critics had suggested the competition was rigged, then pushed back on that allegation with a joke: “The competition isn’t rigged. Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.” He did not offer evidence of vote manipulation or describe the mechanics of the show’s voting.
During the monologue, Kimmel showed videos and read posts from viewers criticizing Rodriguez. He argued that some critics were treating the result too seriously, saying DWTS is “not the Olympics” and “not a professional dance competition.” In his view, the program’s entertainment format means the most entertaining team can be a worthy winner, rather than the outcome being solely about technical dance skill.
Kimmel also praised Rodriguez for working hard despite dancing not coming naturally to him. He played footage of Rodriguez’s recent samba and teased him for spending much of it on the floor. Rodriguez answered in the same comic spirit, telling Kimmel, “Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.” The exchange was part of Kimmel’s defense of his colleague, not a formal response from DWTS or its producers.
The late-night defense · October 7
Guillermo’s ‘DWTS’ Critics Draw A Sharp Reply From Jimmy Kimmel
After viewers questioned Guillermo Rodriguez’s progress and alleged the contest was rigged, Kimmel made the case for judging the show as entertainment—and celebrated his colleague’s effort along the way.
The debate in three parts
Skill, support & showmanship
Kimmel reframed the argument around what a dance entertainment show asks viewers to enjoy.
“Should he still be here?”
Some viewers said Rodriguez should have been eliminated by this point. The report gives no tally showing how widespread those comments were.
Entertainment counts
Kimmel argued DWTS is not the Olympics or a professional dance contest. In his view, audience connection and entertainment value matter too.
A run worth watching
Kimmel praised Rodriguez for working hard each week, even though dancing does not come naturally to him.
“This is not the Olympics. This is not SEAL Team 6.”
Jimmy Kimmel“…not a professional dance competition.”
Kimmel’s distinction about the show’s formatWhat the report establishes
A denial is not voting evidence
Kimmel rejected the rigging claim during a comedy monologue. The report provides no vote totals, voting procedures, or independent evidence about whether the competition was manipulated.
It also includes no response from DWTS, ABC, or Disney, and does not establish whether the criticism was raised through official channels.
The samba exchange
A floor-level punchline
Kimmel teased the routine; Rodriguez answered in the same comic spirit.
Comfort over choreography
Kimmel showed clips from Rodriguez’s recent samba and joked that he spent much of it on the floor. Rodriguez’s reply became the evening’s most memorable line.
Played footage of the samba, joking about the amount of time Rodriguez spent rolling on the floor.
“Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
The exchange mixed teasing with Kimmel’s praise for Rodriguez’s weekly effort.
Criticism
Viewers question Rodriguez’s progress and some allege rigging.
Monologue
Kimmel shows viewer posts and reframes the show as entertainment.
Samba joke
Footage prompts a joke about Rodriguez spending time on the floor.
Comeback
Rodriguez says the floor was too comfortable to leave.
What happens next
The competition continues
No next result or elimination is confirmed in the report. Future performances and voting will determine who remains.
Did Kimmel prove DWTS voting is fair?
No. He rejected the allegation, but the report includes no voting data or description of the process.
Why were some viewers critical?
Some believed Rodriguez should have been eliminated. The report gives no broader measure of viewer opinion.
What makes a contestant a worthy winner?
Kimmel’s argument: entertainment and audience appeal can matter alongside technical dance skill.
What would clarify the allegation?
A response from DWTS or details about its voting process; neither appears in the report.
Kimmel Reframes the DWTS Debate
The exchange highlights a familiar tension around reality competition shows: viewers may judge contestants by technical performance, while the format also rewards audience connection and entertainment value. Kimmel’s defense makes the case that Rodriguez’s appeal should count as part of the show, even as some viewers question whether his dancing merits continued advancement.
His comments also put the criticism into a public conversation rather than leaving it to social-media posts. But Kimmel’s remarks are advocacy for his colleague, not an independent account of voting or proof that complaints about the competition are justified. The available details establish that Kimmel addressed the accusations; they do not establish whether voting has been challenged through official channels or affected the program.
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Rodriguez’s Season 35 Run
Rodriguez is a longtime presence on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and is competing in the current season of Dancing With the Stars. The Yahoo Entertainment report describes him as a fan favorite while noting that some viewers believe he should have been eliminated by this point. It does not give vote totals, judges’ scores, or a breakdown of the online reaction.
Kimmel’s October 7 remarks followed Rodriguez’s samba performance. Kimmel used clips from that dance to joke about the routine, while also saying Rodriguez had been putting in effort each week. DWTS airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, according to the program information included in the report. Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs on weeknights.
“The competition isn’t rigged. Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.”
— Jimmy Kimmel
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Voting Claims Remain Unverified
The report does not provide evidence that DWTS voting is rigged, nor does it include a statement from the show, ABC, or Disney addressing the allegation. Kimmel’s denial was made during a comedy monologue and was not accompanied by information about voting procedures. It is also unclear how widespread the critical comments are, whether they represent a broader viewer response, or how Rodriguez’s scores and votes compare with those of other contestants.
The report does not specify the date of Rodriguez’s samba episode beyond connecting it to Kimmel’s October 7 monologue, and it gives no details about the next results or elimination. Those outcomes remain subject to the show’s ongoing competition.
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The Competition Continues on DWTS
Dancing With the Stars continues with its scheduled Tuesday broadcasts on ABC and Disney+. Rodriguez’s next performances and the results of subsequent voting will determine whether he remains in the competition; no outcome beyond the events described in Kimmel’s monologue is confirmed here.
Kimmel’s response does not change the show’s format or settle the criticism. Further clarity about the rigging allegation would require a response from DWTS or details about its voting process, neither of which was included in the report.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Guillermo Rodriguez’s DWTS critics?
Kimmel said the competition was not rigged and argued that Dancing With the Stars is an entertainment show, not a professional dance contest. He also praised Rodriguez’s effort and popularity.
Why were viewers criticizing Guillermo Rodriguez?
Some viewers said Rodriguez should have been eliminated by that point in Season 35, and Kimmel said some had accused the competition of being rigged. The report does not provide a tally or broader measure of those reactions.
Did Kimmel provide proof that DWTS voting is fair?
No. Kimmel rejected the rigging allegation during his monologue, but the report includes no voting data or explanation of the show’s voting procedures.
How did Rodriguez respond to the samba jokes?
After Kimmel joked that Rodriguez spent more time rolling on the floor than dancing, Rodriguez replied that it was so comfortable he did not want to get up.
When and where does Dancing With the Stars air?
The program information accompanying the report lists DWTS on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
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