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Jimmy Kimmel used his Oct. 7 monologue to push back against online criticism of Guillermo Rodriguez’s progress 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 performance.
Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez against online criticism of his run on Dancing With the Stars during his Oct. 7 monologue, rejecting allegations that the competition is rigged and arguing that the program is an entertainment show rather than a professional dance contest. His comments follow negative reactions from viewers who believe Rodriguez should have been eliminated.
Kimmel said some viewers had accused the competition of being rigged because Rodriguez remained in the contest. He dismissed that claim, joking that the contest itself was not fixed but that “Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.” He added that Rodriguez was winning even though, in Kimmel’s estimation, many people voting might struggle to spell his name. The monologue did not provide evidence of vote totals or any formal review of the competition.
Kimmel played videos and read social media posts criticizing Rodriguez, then argued that viewers were treating the show as if it carried the stakes of a major athletic competition. “This is not the Olympics,” he said, adding that it was not “SEAL Team 6” and that winning brought no responsibilities of that kind. He also described the prize in deliberately modest terms, joking that winners receive a homemade-looking award made with mirrors and Styrofoam.
He said the program’s title distinguishes it from a professional dance contest: “This is an entertainment show,” Kimmel said. “The winner should be whatever team is most entertaining.” He praised Rodriguez for working hard despite dancing not coming naturally to him and said the performance was bringing viewers joy. Rodriguez’s latest routine, a samba, included substantial floor work. Kimmel teased him about spending more time rolling than dancing; Rodriguez replied, “Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
The debate around Season 35
Jimmy Kimmel Challenges the Critics Questioning Guillermo on ‘DWTS’
In his Oct. 7 monologue, Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez’s progress, rejected claims that the competition was rigged, and argued that audience entertainment is part of the show’s appeal.
Entertainment value versus dance skill
Kimmel framed audience appeal as a valid part of the competition, while acknowledging the criticism surrounding Rodriguez’s continued run.
Should he stay?
Some viewers said Rodriguez should have been eliminated. The account does not identify specific critics or quantify the online reaction.
Not a rigging claim
He dismissed allegations that the contest was fixed, joking that “Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.”
A show built to entertain
Kimmel argued the program is entertainment, not a professional dance contest, and praised Rodriguez’s hard work and the joy he brings viewers.
“This is not the Olympics. This is not SEAL Team 6.”
Jimmy Kimmel · On the stakes of the show
Claims and evidence are not the same thing
The monologue pushed back against criticism, but it did not establish how votes were counted or how Rodriguez ranked.
What the account reports
What remains unreported
No vote totals, contestant rankings, or detailed explanation of how judges’ scores and audience votes combine were provided.
The account also reports no official review of the rigging claims, no change to show rules, and no new elimination outcome alongside Kimmel’s remarks.
A samba, a joke, and a defense of effort
The exchange paired playful teasing with Kimmel’s praise for Rodriguez’s weekly work.
Floor-heavy routine
Rodriguez performed a samba that included substantial floor work.
Kimmel teases
He joked that Rodriguez spent more time rolling than dancing.
Guillermo replies
“Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
Effort gets its due
Kimmel said dancing does not come naturally to him, and praised the hard work involved.
Where to watch
Schedule details reported with the account.
Dancing With the Stars
Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Airs on weeknights on ABC.
What the report answers—and what it doesn’t
What did Kimmel say about Rodriguez’s critics?
He pushed back against online criticism, rejected claims the competition was rigged, and argued entertainment value is part of the show.
Did he provide evidence about voting?
No. He rejected the allegations but gave no vote totals or details about the voting process.
What did Rodriguez say about his samba?
After Kimmel joked about his floor work, Rodriguez said it was so comfortable he did not want to get up.
What happens next?
The next scheduled broadcast is Tuesday. The account does not specify Rodriguez’s next dance, the next elimination, or a producer response.
Entertainment Value Versus Dance Skill
Kimmel’s defense puts a public-facing argument about what DWTS rewards at the center of the debate around Rodriguez’s continued place in the competition. The show pairs celebrities with professional dancers, but its outcome also depends on audience participation. Kimmel’s position is that entertainment and audience appeal are legitimate parts of the contest, not proof that the result is improperly determined.
His remarks matter because they directly address the criticism rather than treating it as background noise. They also distinguish viewer frustration from evidence of rigging: the monologue reports that some viewers made accusations, but offers no substantiation for them. Kimmel’s comments are a defense of his colleague and an interpretation of the program’s purpose, not an independent finding about how votes are counted.
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Rodriguez’s Run on Season 35
Rodriguez is Kimmel’s longtime sidekick and is competing on Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars. His participation has attracted enthusiastic support as well as criticism from viewers who say he should have been eliminated. The available account does not identify particular critics or quantify the volume of negative comments.
The exchange followed Rodriguez’s samba, which Kimmel discussed during the monologue by showing clips and joking about its floor-heavy choreography. His teasing was paired with praise for the effort required to perform each week. The show airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+; Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs on weeknights on ABC.
“The competition isn’t rigged. Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.”
— Jimmy Kimmel
Voting Claims Lack Supporting Detail
The account does not establish whether Rodriguez has received more votes than other contestants, how judges’ scores and audience votes affect his standing, or whether any official has addressed claims that the competition is rigged. Kimmel rejected those accusations in his monologue, but his comments do not independently verify the show’s voting process.
It is also unclear how many viewers have criticized Rodriguez or whether the online reaction has affected the competition. No elimination outcome or change to the show’s rules was reported alongside Kimmel’s remarks.
Rodriguez Returns to the Ballroom
Rodriguez’s competition continues with the next scheduled Tuesday DWTS broadcast on ABC and Disney+. The account does not specify his next dance, the next elimination, or any planned response from the program’s producers to the allegations discussed by Kimmel.
For now, the dispute remains a public disagreement over the show’s purpose and Rodriguez’s performances. Future results will show whether audience support continues to carry him through the season; no outcome beyond the reported episode has been confirmed here.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
Key Questions
What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Guillermo Rodriguez’s DWTS critics?
Kimmel pushed back against online criticism, said the competition was not rigged and argued that entertainment value is part of what the show rewards.
Did Kimmel provide evidence about DWTS voting?
No. He rejected the allegations during his monologue, but did not give vote totals or details about the process.
What did Rodriguez say about his samba?
After Kimmel joked about his floor work, Rodriguez replied, “Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
When does Dancing With the Stars air?
The program airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, according to the schedule reported with the account.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
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