Dancing With the Stars 'rigged' claims erupt after devastating elimination controversy
Dancing With the Stars 'rigged' claims erupt after devastating elimination controversy
Lauren DuBois Mon, October 5, 2026 at 11:53 PM UTC
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Dancing with the stars is facing new allegations it is 'rigged' (Image: ABC)Some Dancing With the Stars fans are accusing the show of rigging the competition in favor of one contestant.
Some Dancing With the Stars fans are convinced the show is rigged after Guillermo Rodriguez continues to avoid elimination despite low scores-but those allegations are once again being denied.
The dance competition series, which is currently airing its 35th season on ABC, has been plunged into new controversy ever since the third week of competition ended with the elimination of Britt Stewart and Taylor Hanson, who left before other low-scoring couples, specifically Rodriguez and his partner, Witney Carson.
The pair's ousting was one of the most controversial in the series' history, which has been peppered with several throughout the years, and as a result, has sparked a series of new allegations of things being "rigged."
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Some fans have eyed Rodriguez specifically, noting that his scores were significantly lower than others, having earned 10, 12 and 15 points for their first three routines, while Hanson earned 16, 15 and 18 on his first routines.
However, while some are wondering if Rodriguez is continuing to avoid elimination because he is a fellow ABC talent, one person is putting an end to those rumors.
Dancing With the Stars fans are claiming the show is rigged in favor of Guillermo Rodriguez (Image: ABC)
Speaking to the U.S. Sun, a source told the U.S. Sun that any claims things were being manipulated behind-the-scenes to keep the 55-year-old Jimmy Kimmel Live! Star in the competition.
"Nothing is rigged with Guillermo. He does not have a leg up for being ABC talent," the source told the publication.
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They shared that his continuation on the show is down purely to fan votes, and that his regular promotion on the late-night show has also given him a voting advantage that none of the other contestants can truly touch.
"The plugs Guillermo gets on Jimmy Kimmel boosts his votes astronomically. He gets a surge o votes no other contestant is getting," they added. "That and his lovable personality make up for the low scores."
A source denies that his luck has anything to do with manipulation and is vote based (Image: ABC)
The questions about Rodriguez being able to stay in the competition are only the latest questions the show has faced since the start of the season.
Fans previously questioned if things were rigged in favor of two pros in particular, Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson, who were both given "ringers" for the season in Jenna Dewan and Harry Shum Jr., respectively.
Fans were annoyed by the pairings, noting that the married couple frequently received more desirable partners, especially in recent seasons, where they have each won a Mirrorball. At least one has always made the finals.
The last time neither of them appeared in a final was season 28. Johnson placed second in seasons 29 and 30, and won season 33. Chmerkovskiy placed second in both seasons 31 and 34, and won in season 32. Stewart, meanwhile, has never made it to a finale and is often given partners who are not considered ringers.
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays on ABC and Disney+.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
