Witney Carson Calls Guillermo’s DWTS Score “Lame”
Witney Carson has made her feelings clear about Witney Carson Guillermo Rodriguez DWTS score controversy after her partner received just 10 out of 30 points during the Season 35 premiere of Dancing With the Stars.
Carson, who is returning to the ballroom as the reigning professional champion, defended Rodriguez after their Cha-Cha performance received some of the lowest marks of the night. The professional dancer said she was proud of how her celebrity partner handled the routine and bluntly described the judges’ scores as “lame.”
The result immediately became one of the talking points from the September 15 premiere. Rodriguez, best known as Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime sidekick on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performed the Cha-Cha with Carson to Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff.”
Although the performance generated plenty of enthusiasm from the audience, the judges were considerably less generous when it came time to assign points.
Witney Carson Defends Guillermo Rodriguez After Low DWTS Score
Carson explained that the pair had put substantial effort into preparing their routine.
According to her post-show comments, the rehearsal process focused heavily on timing and making sure Rodriguez did not rush through the choreography. She acknowledged that there were moments during the live performance when the pair were slightly out of sync, but she was pleased that Rodriguez recovered quickly and continued following her direction.
For Carson, the performance was about more than the final number displayed on the judges’ scoreboard.
She praised Rodriguez for listening to her, following her lead and, most importantly, enjoying himself on the ballroom floor.
“I’m so proud,” Carson said after the performance, before adding her blunt assessment of the judges’ scores: “The judge’s scores were lame.”
Her comments came after Rodriguez received a combined score of only 10 points out of a possible 30.
Carrie Ann Inaba awarded him a 4, while Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli each gave him a 3.
Guillermo Rodriguez DWTS Score Sparks Audience Reaction
The Witney Carson Guillermo Rodriguez DWTS score also produced a strong reaction inside the ballroom.
Entertainment Weekly reported that the audience loudly booed after the judges revealed their marks. Rodriguez appeared shocked by the total, while the hosts acknowledged the crowd reaction during the live broadcast.
The low score was particularly striking because the judges had offered some positive comments about Rodriguez’s performance.
Hough acknowledged that the technical execution was lacking but also credited Rodriguez’s effort. Tonioli similarly suggested that the technical side of his dancing could improve.
Inaba focused more heavily on Rodriguez’s personality and entertainment value, praising the way he brought energy and clearly defined movements to the performance.
The contrast between the judges’ comments and the final score helped fuel the reaction from the studio audience.
Why Guillermo Rodriguez Received a 10
Rodriguez’s score reflected the judges’ concerns about technique rather than simply the entertainment value of the routine.
The 55-year-old television personality is not entering the competition with the same professional dance background as Carson or some other contestants. His performance therefore represents a particularly steep learning curve as he adapts to ballroom choreography, timing and technique.
During the premiere, the judges appeared to separate those technical issues from Rodriguez’s enthusiasm.
Inaba, for example, complimented the contestant for his personality and ability to make individual movements clear to the audience. Hough and Tonioli, meanwhile, emphasized the technical weaknesses that prevented the routine from earning higher marks.
That distinction is important because Dancing With the Stars scores are based heavily on what the judges see technically on the ballroom floor.
A contestant can generate a strong audience response while still receiving relatively low marks if the judges believe the choreography, timing, footwork or other technical elements need significant improvement.
Rodriguez Was Not Happy With His DWTS Score
Rodriguez did not pretend that he was satisfied with the 10-point result.
After the performance, he admitted that he was disappointed because he believed he had performed well.
The comedian jokingly directed some of his frustration toward Hough before quickly remembering that the judge would be back to evaluate the couple again in the following week.
Rodriguez then returned to a more positive tone, emphasizing his appreciation for the judges and his determination to continue with the competition.
His attitude also reflected the larger challenge of competing on Dancing With the Stars.
Rather than treating the first score as the final word on his abilities, Rodriguez said he was proud to have completed the opening week and intended to keep working.
He credited Carson’s guidance during the performance, recalling her instructions to look at her, smile, avoid rushing and enjoy the moment.
That mindset could become particularly important as the competition progresses.
Witney Carson and Guillermo Rodriguez Are Still Looking Ahead
Despite the difficult start on the scoreboard, Carson and Rodriguez remain part of the Season 35 competition.
The pair entered the season with plenty of attention because Carson is returning as a reigning champion while Rodriguez is one of the more recognizable television personalities in the cast.
Carson previously won the Season 34 competition with Robert Irwin, adding another layer of interest to her partnership with Rodriguez this year. Entertainment Weekly noted that Rodriguez has repeatedly expressed pride in being paired with Carson.
Their partnership also has a distinctive personal element.
Carson is pregnant with her third child, and she has continued competing during her pregnancy. She told Us Weekly that she was feeling good during her second trimester and said Rodriguez had been attentive to her needs during rehearsals.
According to Carson, Rodriguez has been making sure she has snacks and water during their demanding schedule.
That support appears to have become part of their partnership away from the actual choreography.
Guillermo Rodriguez Remains Focused Despite the Criticism
For Rodriguez, the premiere appears to have reinforced rather than diminished his desire to continue.
Before joining Dancing With the Stars, he was already approaching the competition with a sense of humor.
That same attitude was evident after the disappointing score.
Rodriguez said he was not happy with the judges’ tally, but he also emphasized that he had listened to Carson and felt comfortable during the performance. He described the show as difficult but said he had successfully made it through the first week and wanted to keep working.
His longtime colleague Jimmy Kimmel has also encouraged him to embrace the experience.
Rodriguez said Kimmel advised him to give the competition everything he had, enjoy himself and be proud regardless of what happened after the dance. Kimmel also jokingly recommended celebrating after the performance.
That advice fits Rodriguez’s approach to the competition so far: entertainment remains a major part of his strategy.
Guillermo’s Score Is Among the Lowest in DWTS History
The 10-point result was not simply a low score for the Season 35 premiere. It also placed Rodriguez among the contestants who have received some of the lowest totals in the show’s history.
Entertainment Weekly reported that his 10 out of 30 sits just above the infamous 8-point score received by Master P during Season 2 in 2006.
That historical context makes the audience’s reaction easier to understand.
However, Rodriguez’s situation is also different from contestants whose journeys ended quickly after poor judging. Dancing With the Stars combines judges’ scores with viewer voting, meaning audience support can become an important factor as the season develops.
The premiere demonstrated that Rodriguez has a recognizable fan base, and the crowd reaction suggested that viewers were emotionally invested in his performance.
The DWTS Competition Continues
Season 35 is using a two-night premiere format, with the second portion scheduled for September 16.
The new season includes a large cast of celebrity contestants, with performances spread across the opening nights. The show’s current format means Rodriguez and Carson will have additional opportunities to demonstrate whether their ballroom technique improves as the competition continues.
For the pair, the immediate challenge is straightforward: turn Carson’s rehearsal work into stronger technical performances while preserving the personality that made Rodriguez entertaining during the premiere.
The first score cannot be changed, but future routines provide a chance to respond to the judges’ criticism.
Carson’s defense of her partner also suggests that the professional dancer sees room for growth rather than treating the premiere result as representative of Rodriguez’s full potential.
What Comes Next for Witney Carson and Guillermo Rodriguez?
The biggest question following the premiere is whether Rodriguez can make a significant technical jump in the coming weeks.
His first routine showed two sides of his DWTS journey.
On one hand, the judges identified clear technical shortcomings, resulting in a 10-point total. On the other, Rodriguez demonstrated enthusiasm, personality and a willingness to follow Carson’s choreography, while the audience responded strongly to his performance.
Carson’s reaction indicates that the pair are not allowing the score to define their partnership.
Instead, they appear ready to return to rehearsal and work on the areas that need improvement.
For Rodriguez, the goal now is not simply to entertain the ballroom. He will also need to demonstrate measurable progress in timing, technique and execution if he wants to turn the judges’ initial skepticism into stronger scores.
For Carson, the task is equally demanding. She must continue developing her partner while managing the physical demands of performing during pregnancy.
Their opening night may have produced a disappointing number on the scoreboard, but it also created one of the premiere’s most discussed moments.
And with another performance ahead, Rodriguez has an immediate opportunity to show whether his Witney Carson Guillermo Rodriguez DWTS score was merely a difficult beginning or an indication of the challenges that will define their season.
When to Watch Dancing With the Stars
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 airs on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, according to the current schedule reported after the premiere.
The Season 35 premiere continues with its second night on September 16, giving viewers another opportunity to see the season’s celebrity-professional pairings take the ballroom floor.
