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Jimmy Kimmel defended his sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez during his October 7 monologue after viewers criticized Rodriguez’s progress on Dancing With the Stars and questioned whether the competition was rigged. Kimmel said the show is entertainment, praised Rodriguez’s effort and called the audience’s enjoyment a reason to support him.
Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez against online criticism of his run on Dancing With the Stars, using his October 7 monologue to reject claims that the competition was rigged and argue that the show is meant to entertain. Kimmel praised his longtime sidekick’s effort and said viewers should judge the performance by the joy it brings, rather than by the standards of a professional dance contest.
Kimmel acknowledged that some viewers were unhappy with Rodriguez’s progress and had accused the competition of being rigged. He answered with a joke: “The competition isn’t rigged. Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.” He also said Rodriguez was winning despite some voters potentially struggling to spell his name, while online critics were trying to bring him down.
During the monologue, Kimmel played videos and read social media posts criticizing Rodriguez. He urged viewers not to treat the show like the Olympics or a military competition, saying there were no responsibilities attached to winning. He described the prize jokingly as a homemade trophy and stressed that the program is an entertainment show, not a professional dance championship.
Kimmel also highlighted the work Rodriguez had put into rehearsals and performances, saying dancing did not come naturally to him. He showed a clip of Rodriguez’s recent samba and joked that the routine involved more time rolling on the floor than dancing. Rodriguez took the teasing in stride, replying that the floor was so comfortable he did not want to get up.
Television • Audience Debate • October 7
Jimmy Kimmel Comes to Guillermo’s Defense Amid ‘DWTS’ Backlash
As viewers questioned Guillermo Rodriguez’s progress and alleged the contest was rigged, Kimmel made the case for effort, laughter and entertainment over professional dance standards.
The defense
What Kimmel wanted viewers to see
Kimmel acknowledged the backlash, then reframed the contest around the work Rodriguez puts in and the fun audiences get from watching him.
A show built to entertain
Kimmel said viewers should not treat the program like the Olympics or a military competition. The prize, he joked, was a homemade trophy.
Rehearsal counts
He praised Rodriguez’s commitment, noting that dancing does not come naturally to his longtime sidekick.
Critique the dancing, not the person
Kimmel showed critical posts and objected to online abuse aimed at a participant who is willing to perform and make people laugh.
In his own words
Four lines from the monologue
Support and teasing went hand in hand as Kimmel defended Rodriguez’s place in the show.
“This is also not a professional dance competition. That’s why it’s called Dancing With the Stars, not Dancing With the Professionals.”
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, after the samba joke
“Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.”
Jimmy Kimmel, joking about the rigging claims
The real disagreement
Popularity, skill—or the joy of the performance?
The backlash points to a familiar reality TV tension: should technical ability decide who stays, or can audience appeal matter just as much? Kimmel argued for entertainment value. That is his view, not a confirmed statement of the show’s formal judging criteria.
This spectrum illustrates the debate described in the monologue. It does not represent voting weights or official scoring rules.
What is known—and what is not
Follow the story without overstating it
Kimmel’s remarks are part of the public record; the available account leaves important voting details unanswered.
Backlash surfaces
Some viewers criticize Rodriguez’s progress and question whether he should remain.
Kimmel responds
He rejects the rigging claim in jest and urges viewers to value entertainment and effort.
Voting remains unclear
No vote totals, weighting details or independent confirmation are provided in the account.
The contest continues
Future performances and results will determine Rodriguez’s next steps; no outcome is established here.
What to watch
The next performance is the next data point
The dispute is still a debate among viewers about entertainment, dance ability and online conduct.
Tuesdays • 8 p.m. Eastern
Watch on ABC and Disney+. The account does not specify Rodriguez’s next routine or the next voting outcome.
Weeknights on ABC
Kimmel’s response aired on October 7. His comments do not establish how votes are counted or whether criticism has affected results.
Quick answers
Key questions
Why did Kimmel defend Rodriguez?
He responded to criticism of Rodriguez’s performances and accusations from some viewers that the competition was rigged. Kimmel praised his effort and said the show is entertainment.
Did Kimmel prove the voting is fair?
No. He rejected the rigging suggestion, but the available account provides no evidence about voting procedures or independent confirmation of how votes are counted.
What was his main point?
Kimmel said Dancing With the Stars is not a professional dance contest and argued that the most entertaining team should win. That is his stated opinion.
How did Rodriguez answer the samba joke?
After Kimmel joked that the routine involved more floor time than dancing, Rodriguez said the floor was so comfortable he did not want to get up.
Kimmel Reframes the Contest
Kimmel’s remarks put a familiar tension in reality competition shows into public view: audiences may disagree over whether a contestant’s popularity or technical skill should matter more. His defense did not change the competition’s results or address how votes are counted, but it offered a clear argument for why Rodriguez’s participation can be entertaining even when viewers debate his dancing.
The response also matters because the criticism had moved beyond judging a performance. Kimmel played examples of hostile online commentary and objected to viewers attacking Rodriguez personally. His appeal was that a television contest should not become a reason to direct abuse at a participant, particularly one whose appeal is tied to his willingness to perform and make the audience laugh.
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Rodriguez’s Season 35 Run
Rodriguez is competing in Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars and is described as a fan favorite. That popularity has come alongside criticism from viewers who believe he should have been eliminated by this point. The account of Kimmel’s monologue does not identify the critics or give figures for voting, so the scale of the backlash and its effect on the competition are not established.
Kimmel is Rodriguez’s employer and has featured him as a sidekick on Jimmy Kimmel Live! His comments combined support with humor directed at Rodriguez’s dancing and physical performance. The show airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and Disney+, while Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs weeknights on ABC.
“The competition isn’t rigged. Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.”
— Jimmy Kimmel
dancing with the stars beginner dance shoes
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Voting Claims Remain Unverified
Kimmel rejected the suggestion that the competition was rigged, but the account of his monologue provides no evidence about the show’s voting process or independent confirmation of how votes are counted. It is also unclear how many viewers have criticized Rodriguez, whether the comments have affected voting, or how judges and audience votes are weighed in this season.
The available details do not establish the full context of the posts Kimmel read or whether the people criticizing Rodriguez were making personal attacks, objecting to his dancing, or both. His comments and the audience’s applause are confirmed as part of the monologue; they do not settle the underlying disagreement among viewers about who should remain in the competition.
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The Competition Continues
Dancing With the Stars continues with its weekly live competition on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and Disney+. Rodriguez’s next performance and the results of subsequent voting will show whether he remains in the contest, but no future placement or outcome is established by Kimmel’s remarks.
Kimmel’s response aired on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on October 7. For now, the public dispute remains a debate among viewers about entertainment, dance ability and online conduct; the show’s next results will provide the next concrete development in Rodriguez’s competition run.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Why did Jimmy Kimmel defend Guillermo Rodriguez?
Kimmel responded to criticism of Rodriguez’s Dancing With the Stars performances and to accusations from some viewers that the competition was rigged. He argued that the show is entertainment and praised Rodriguez’s effort.
What did Kimmel say about claims the competition was rigged?
Kimmel said, “The competition isn’t rigged,” and followed the remark with a joke that life was rigged in Rodriguez’s favor. The monologue account does not include evidence about the show’s voting procedures.
What was Kimmel’s main point about Dancing With the Stars?
He said the program is not a professional dance competition and argued that the most entertaining team should win. That was Kimmel’s stated view, not a confirmed description of the show’s formal judging criteria.
How did Rodriguez respond to Kimmel’s samba jokes?
After Kimmel joked that Rodriguez spent more time on the floor than dancing, Rodriguez replied that it was so comfortable he did not want to get up.
When can viewers watch the next episode?
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and Disney+. The available report does not specify Rodriguez’s next routine or the next episode’s voting outcome.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
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