‘Dancing With the Stars’ Blasted With Charges Show is RIGGED: ‘Bosses Cook Up Soap Opera World of Love Stories and Feuds’
'Dancing With the Stars' faces accusations of being rigged, with bosses stirring up drama and feuds.
Oct. 25 2024, Published 7:00 a.m. ET
Dancing with the Stars has long been sidestepping reality when it comes to judging the competitors, according to numerous critics – but despite the many claims that the fix is in, the show continues to trip the light fantastic in the ratings!
A set insider told RadarOnline.com: "Dancing with the Stars is a competition, but even more it's showbiz.
"They try to create a live soap opera world of love stories and feuds between contestants, and the actual competition is nearly an afterthought!"
An insider said ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is a competition, but even more, it's showbiz.
Actor Antonio Sabato Jr. has become the latest former contestant to claim something is fishy with the judging.
The 52-year-old “General Hospital” star, who competed on DWTS with pro partner Cheryl Burke in 2014, went on Cheryl's podcast “Sex, Lies and Spray Tans” to make his case.
Antonio Sabato Jr., who competed on ‘DWTS’ with pro partner Cheryl Burke in 2014, went on Cheryl's podcast ‘Sex, Lies and Spray Tans’ to make his case.
He declared: "Yes, it is rigged. First of all, if you're not a dancer or you don't have dancing skills from a young age, you're not going to win."
He's hardly the first contestant to cry foul, we can reveal.
Kyle Massey, who was paired with Lacey Schwimmer, leveled even heavier allegations when he competed in season 11.
That's So Raven alum Kyle Massey, who was paired with Lacey Schwimmer, leveled even heavier allegations when he competed in season 11.
Massey, 33, charged one of the celeb hoofers took a tumble during her routine, which was seen as is when the show aired live on the East Coast.
In 2023, teen actress Xochitl Gomez took home the Mirror Ball trophy.
But the mishap mysteriously disappeared during a tape-delayed airing on the West Coast — and the dancer received top scores.
Massey fumed: "It was edited out and she got perfect tens."
- Drugs, Divorce & Depression! ‘DWTS’ Season 28 Cast’s Secrets & Scandals Exposed
- Dancing With The Scars! The Worst Celebrity Injuries In ‘DWTS’ History
- Scandal-Hit 'DWTS' Pro Artem Chigvintsev has 'Lost More Than $100K' in Wake of Domestic Violence Arrest — and Claims Ex-Wife Nikki Garcia Suffers 'Anger Issues'
DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.
‘Dancing with the Stars’ judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
Other critics have also been blasting the show – which supposedly combines judges' scores and viewer votes to determine winners – for having a predetermined champ before anyone has even stepped on the dance floor.
In 2023, teen actress Xochitl Gomez took home the Mirror Ball trophy, but not before her fellow finalist – former Bachelorette Charity Lawson – was suspiciously docked a point from judge Carrie Ann Inaba for making an unidentified mistake during one of her dances.
Xochitl Gomez completely missed grabbing the hand of her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, during one of her dances.
Meanwhile, millions of viewers saw Doctor Strange cutie Xochitl completely miss grabbing the hand of her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, during one of her dances – something the judges never brought up in awarding her perfect scores.
"Of course, when Xochitl messes up the judges turn a blind eye,” groused one social media poster.
Some viewers claimed the season's scores were heavily weighted in favor of eventual winner Charli D'Amelio, who was paired with pro Mark Ballas.
The 20-year-old TikTok and reality TV star had once been a competitive dancer before coming on DWTS and had even cut the rug professionally with show judge Derek Hough.
"I think the win was rigged for Charli not fair!" fumed one DWTS fan.
Another disgruntled viewer agreed: "Professional dancers shouldn't be allowed to compete."
Carli D’Amelio had once been a competitive dancer before coming on ‘DWTS’ and had even cut the rug professionally with show judge Derek Hough.
The rigging of the show seems to have become one of Hollywood's worst-kept secrets, but there's apparently no reason to rein it in so long as the ratings soar, according to our insiders.
Revealed the source: "Really, what Antonio and Kyle and others have said publicly is what a lot of folks have said privately for a long time.
"And that is the show is staged and everyone from the producers to the judges pretty much knows who is going to win before. the first dance takes place!"
Have a tip? Send it to us! Email RadarOnline.com at tips@radaronline.com.