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Jimmy Kimmel defended his sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez on his Oct. 7 show after online critics questioned Rodriguez’s continued place on Dancing With the Stars. Kimmel rejected claims that the competition is rigged and argued that DWTS is an entertainment show, while praising Rodriguez’s effort and the joy he brings viewers.
Jimmy Kimmel defended Guillermo Rodriguez during his Oct. 7 monologue, responding to online viewers who say the Dancing With the Stars contestant should have been eliminated and alleging that the competition is rigged. Kimmel denied the rigging claim and argued that the show is an entertainment competition, while praising his sidekick’s work and the enthusiasm his performances have generated.
Kimmel said that not everyone was pleased with Rodriguez’s run and that some viewers had accused the competition of being rigged. He rejected that accusation, quipping that “the competition isn’t rigged” but that “life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.” He also joked that some voters might struggle to spell Rodriguez’s name, framing the contestant’s popularity as part of the appeal.
During the monologue, Kimmel showed clips and read posts from people criticizing Rodriguez. He said some viewers were losing sight of the nature of the program, adding that DWTS is “not the Olympics” or “SEAL Team 6.” His point was that the show does not carry the responsibilities associated with those institutions and should not be judged as if it were a professional dance championship.
Kimmel described the winner’s prize as a small, makeshift trophy and said DWTS is called Dancing With the Stars rather than Dancing With the Professionals. He argued that the winning team should be the one viewers find most entertaining. The audience applauded when he asked whether anything in the show’s 21-year history had been more entertaining than Rodriguez’s performances.
He also said dancing does not come naturally to Rodriguez and praised the effort he puts in each week. Kimmel described the contestant’s floor work, sweat and physical exertion in comic terms, then criticized viewers who attack him online or begrudge the enjoyment his performances bring. The remarks were a defense of Rodriguez, not evidence that the show had changed its voting rules or adjudication.
Kimmel played footage of Rodriguez’s recent samba and joked that the contestant spent more time rolling on the floor than dancing, comparing him to a teddy bear whose batteries had run out. Rodriguez took the joke lightly, replying to Kimmel, “Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.” The exchange kept the segment focused on humor as well as the dispute around his place in the competition.
A Debate Over DWTS’s Entertainment Value
The exchange puts a familiar question about reality competitions into view: whether success should be judged mainly by technical ability or by audience response. Kimmel made the case for the latter, saying the show is built around celebrities and entertainment rather than professional dancers competing on equal technical terms. His comments also underscore that viewer votes and audience appeal are part of the conversation surrounding Rodriguez’s continued participation.
At the same time, Kimmel’s defense does not resolve the complaints voiced online. His remarks are the perspective of Rodriguez’s employer and friend, delivered in a comedy monologue. They explain why Kimmel supports his sidekick but do not establish how DWTS voting has worked in this season or whether critics’ claims have merit. The distinction matters: Kimmel rejected the allegation of rigging, but the segment itself does not provide independent evidence about the voting process.
The criticism also shows how a contestant’s visibility can bring both support and hostility. Kimmel cited online attacks and urged critics to stop targeting Rodriguez, while presenting the contestant’s effort and comic performances as a source of enjoyment for viewers. The response may help supporters understand his appeal, but the result of the competition remains subject to the show’s own process.
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Rodriguez’s Run on Season 35
Rodriguez is competing on Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars while also appearing as Kimmel’s sidekick on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The supplied account describes him as a fan favorite and says criticism has accompanied that support as some viewers argue he should have left the competition already. It does not identify the individual critics or quantify how widespread either the support or the criticism is.
The argument Kimmel made rests on the program’s format. He contrasted DWTS with elite sporting or military competitions and emphasized the show’s entertainment purpose. His comments were delivered after Rodriguez’s samba, which Kimmel used as an example of the contestant’s unconventional performance style. The exchange between the two men mixed Kimmel’s defense with jokes at Rodriguez’s expense, which Rodriguez appeared to accept in the moment.
The account lists DWTS as airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on ABC and Disney+, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! as airing weeknights on ABC. Those listings place the comments within the ongoing season; they do not provide a result for Rodriguez’s next appearance or say how the online criticism might affect voting.
“The competition isn’t rigged. Life is rigged in Guillermo’s favor.”
— Jimmy Kimmel
Voting Claims Remain Unverified
The account does not provide voting totals, scoring details or evidence supporting the online allegation that DWTS is rigged. Kimmel denied the claim, but his monologue did not offer documentation of the voting process. It is also unclear how many viewers have criticized Rodriguez, how representative the posts shown were, or whether the controversy has affected audience voting.
No later episode result or official statement from the show’s producers is included. Rodriguez’s standing in the competition, the balance between judges’ scores and viewer votes, and the eventual winner therefore remain unresolved in the available information.
Next Episodes Will Show the Result
DWTS is scheduled to continue with new episodes on Tuesdays on ABC and Disney+. Rodriguez’s next performances and the competition’s results will show whether he advances, but the available account does not say when a final result will be announced or whether the show will respond to the rigging allegations.
Until further details are available, Kimmel’s comments stand as a defense of his colleague and an argument about the show’s purpose—not a change to the competition’s rules. The next relevant developments are Rodriguez’s continued participation, the audience and judges’ response, and any clarification from DWTS about its voting process.
Key Questions
Why did Jimmy Kimmel defend Guillermo Rodriguez?
Kimmel responded to online criticism saying Rodriguez should have been eliminated and to allegations that the competition was rigged. He praised Rodriguez’s effort and said his performances entertain viewers.
Did Kimmel say Dancing With the Stars is rigged?
No. Kimmel explicitly said, “The competition isn’t rigged,” while joking that life was rigged in Rodriguez’s favor.
What was Kimmel’s argument about how the winner should be chosen?
Kimmel said DWTS is an entertainment show, not a professional dance competition, and argued that the most entertaining team should win. He did not describe a change to the show’s voting rules.
How did Guillermo Rodriguez respond to Kimmel’s jokes?
After Kimmel teased his floor work during the samba, Rodriguez joked, “Jimmy, it was so comfortable, I didn’t want to get up.”
Is there evidence in the report that DWTS voting was manipulated?
No voting records or other evidence are provided. Kimmel denied the allegation, and the available account does not independently verify how the show’s voting works.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment
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