Witney Carson is defending her Dancing With the Stars partner Guillermo Rodriguez after their Season 35 debut resulted in a surprisingly low score of 10 out of 30. The numbers immediately triggered a strong reaction inside the ballroom, with the audience loudly booing after Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli each awarded the routine just three points.
Carson and Rodriguez performed a high-energy cha-cha to Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff” during the September 15 premiere. Although Rodriguez clearly had a good time on the dance floor, the judges focused heavily on the technical aspects of his performance, leaving the pair at the bottom of the leaderboard that night.
Hough gave Rodriguez a 3, while Tonioli also awarded a 3 and Carrie Ann Inaba gave him a 4. The combined 10 points became one of the lowest scores in DWTS history, with Entertainment Weekly noting that Rodriguez became only the second contestant to receive a 10 out of 30 from the judges.
The ballroom crowd clearly disagreed with the numbers. Loud boos erupted when the scores were announced, creating an awkward but memorable moment during the premiere. The judges had acknowledged Rodriguez’s effort and entertainment value before revealing their marks, making the audience reaction even more noticeable.
Carson later opened up about the scores during an appearance on the official DWTS podcast. She specifically addressed the two threes, saying she thought they were “a little mean” and “a little uncalled for,” especially because Rodriguez had worked hard and was performing without previous dance experience.
The professional dancer had already expressed her disappointment immediately after the performance, describing the judges’ scores as “lame.” Carson explained that she and Rodriguez had worked extensively on timing and avoiding rushing the choreography, and she was proud that he listened, followed her lead and continued performing despite the mistakes.
Rodriguez himself admitted that he was unhappy with the result. Rather than dwelling on the criticism, however, he quickly turned his attention toward improving for the next performance, making it clear that he did not want to receive another three from the judges.
“I don’t wanna get a three,” Rodriguez said while discussing the experience, adding that the pair needed to practice and do better. His comments reflected the determination behind his decision to continue pushing forward despite beginning the competition with one of the season’s lowest scores.
Despite the judges’ numbers, viewers ultimately gave Rodriguez enough support to keep him in the competition. The audience response and viewer votes demonstrated that his popularity was not reflected by the judges’ scoreboard alone, adding another layer to the ongoing discussion surrounding how contestants should be evaluated on the show.
Now, Carson and Rodriguez have another opportunity to prove themselves on the ballroom floor. With the controversy surrounding their debut scores still fresh, all eyes are on whether Rodriguez can turn the criticism into motivation and deliver a stronger performance the next time he takes the stage.
Compiled with information from various sources.
