Witney Carson Criticizes Judges for Guillermo Rodriguez’s Low Scores
WHO:
Yahoo - Witney Carson, 32, expressed pride in her partner Guillermo Rodriguez, 55, for his performance.
Us Weekly - Guillermo Rodriguez mentioned he gained 10 lbs during his training for Dancing With the Stars.
Yahoo - Witney Carson, professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars
Yahoo - Guillermo Rodriguez, contestant on Dancing With the Stars and sidekick on Jimmy Kimmel Live
Us Weekly - Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli
WHAT:
Yahoo - Witney Carson described the judges' scores as "lame" and stated, "He followed my lead and he performed and he had fun, so honestly, that’s all I can ask for."
Us Weekly - Rodriguez humorously referred to Derek Hough as "dead to us" after receiving low scores but later expressed affection, saying, "Oh, never mind. … We love you. We love you. You’re great, man. You’re so sexy."
Yahoo - Witney Carson criticized the judges for their low scores during the season 35 premiere of Dancing With the Stars.
Yahoo - Carson and Rodriguez received a total score of 10 out of 30 for their cha-cha performance.
Us Weekly - Inaba scored Rodriguez a 4, while Hough and Tonioli each gave him a score of 3.
Us Weekly - Rodriguez was at the bottom of the leaderboard with a total score of 10 out of 30.
Us Weekly - The first contestant eliminated from the season was Conner Leavitt.
WHERE:
Yahoo - The performances took place on the set of Dancing With the Stars.
WHEN:
Us Weekly - The live premiere of Dancing With the Stars occurred on September 15.
Yahoo - The female contestants are scheduled to compete on September 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
WHY:
Yahoo - Carson expressed disappointment with the judges' scores, stating that despite some mistakes, Rodriguez performed well and had fun.
HOW:
Us Weekly - Witney Carson is pregnant with her third child and mentioned, "Guillermo’s really taking care of me. He’s making sure I get all my snacks and water."
Yahoo - Carson choreographed the cha-cha to Jean Knight's "Mr. Big Stuff," a song from the year Rodriguez was born.
Us Weekly - Rodriguez mentioned he "squeezed" his behind during the routine to maintain balance after sliding on his knees.
(UPDATED September 17, 2026 04:01 UTC)
Witney Carson expressed pride in her partner Guillermo Rodriguez for his performance on Dancing With the Stars, despite describing the judges' scores as "lame." Rodriguez humorously referred to Derek Hough as "dead to us" after receiving low scores, but quickly softened his tone, saying, "We love you. You’re great, man. You’re so sexy." Meanwhile, Witney, who is pregnant with her third child, shared that Guillermo is taking great care of her by ensuring she gets all her snacks and water.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 23:07 UTC)
Witney Carson, a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars, voiced her frustration with the judges' low scores during the season 35 premiere, where she and contestant Guillermo Rodriguez received a total of 10 out of 30 for their cha-cha performance. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli scored Rodriguez a 4, 3, and 3 respectively, placing him at the bottom of the leaderboard, while Conner Leavitt was the first contestant eliminated from the season. The female contestants are set to compete tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT, following Carson's choreography to Jean Knight's "Mr. Big Stuff," a nostalgic choice from the year Rodriguez was born.