Derek Hough and Americas egg farmers serve up Eggceptional Holiday Recipe Remakes

Derek Hough Weighs In On If 'Dancing With the Stars' Is 'Rigged'

Home / Entertainment / Derek Hough Weighs In On If 'Dancing With the Stars' Is 'Rigged'

By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on October 20, 2022 at 10:30 AM PDT

For years, fans of the reality competition show, "Dancing With the Stars," have been upset when they find out some of the celebrities have had dance experience -- especially when those celebrities go on to make the finale and even sometimes win.

For example, Kaitlyn Bristowe, who won "Dancing With the Stars," had trained ballet experience prior to competing. And Nicole Scherzinger, who minored in dance in college, and rose to fame as a Pussycat Doll, took home the Mirror Ball Trophy as well.

Because of the dance experience history some of the celebrities have, many fans feel the show is "rigged."

Now, one of the judges is speaking out regarding the topic.

Article continues below advertisement

Derek Hough Weighs In On 'DWTS' Controversy

Derek Hough at Spotify Best New Artist 2020 Party
MEGA

This season, many fans are mad that Charli D'Ameilio is competing on this season of "Dancing With the Stars" due to her dance experience -- a topic that has been ongoing among the "Dancing With the Stars" community for years.

Now, one of the "Dancing With the Stars" judges, Derek Hough, is weighing in on the backlash from fans. When speaking to Pop Culture, Hough said, "It may seem like a disadvantage, but we've seen that it's not."

He continued, "A good example [is] last season, you had JoJo Siwia who's a dancer, but Iman [Shumpert], who's a basketball player, who's never danced in his life, he won."

Last season, Shumpert was partnered with Daniella Karagach, who defined odds and took home the Mirror Ball Trophy, beating out "Dance Moms" star JoJo Siwia.

Article continues below advertisement

More 'Dancing With the Stars' Controversy

Sasha Farber and Selma Blair
Instagram | Dancing With the Stars

The most recent episode of "Dancing With the Stars" has fans fuming.

Jessie James Decker and her partner Alan Bersten danced a Viennese Waltz to Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway,” but later, they were crowned Prom King and Queen as part of the dance marathon, earning them extra points, making them safe from elimination.

Joseph Baena and his pro dancer Daniella Karagach and Heidi D’Amelio and her partner Artem Chigvintsev both ended up in the bottom two. After a tough decision, the judges decided it was time for Joseph Baena to go home.

Fans quickly took to social media to say the show is "rigged" as they feel Decker shouldn't have won the extra point, and the worst dancer did not go home.

Article continues below advertisement

Who Is Left On This Season Of 'Dancing With the Stars?'

Tyra Banks on Dancing With the Stars
Instagram | Dancing With the Stars

With only 10 couples left on this season of the reality dance show, the competition will come down to the wire. Here is a list of those remaining couples:

  • Wayne Brady with dance partner Witney Carson
  • Charli D’Amelio with dance partner Mark Ballas
  • Heidi D’Amelio with dance partner Artem Chigvintsev
  • Jessie James Decker with dance partner Alan Bersten
  • Trevor Donovan with dance partner Emma Slater
  • Daniel Durant with dance partner Britt Stewart
  • Vinny Guadagnino with dance partner Koko Iwasaki
  • Shangela with dance partner Gleb Savchenko
  • Jordin Sparks with dance partner Brandon Armstrong
  • Gabby Windey with dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy

The reality competition show recently moved from its home of ABC to Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, and airs every Monday night at 8 p.m. ET.

Article continues below advertisement