“The Demon” does not seem to be welcome on the Dancing with the Stars stage. Rock band icon Gene Simmons is facing backlash following his strict scoring and what some say are inappropriate comments as a guest judge on yesterday evening’s Hair Metal Night.
The former bassist and co-lead singer of Kiss did not hold back his opinions behind the judges table. The crowd booed Simmons as he revealed a “5” paddle for fan-favorite Reginald VelJohnson, who was eliminated at the end of the night. By contrast, Simmons gave Brooks Nader, who has consistently scored in the middle of the pack, a “10” after her pole dancing/cha cha hybrid. However, Simmons had already locked in a “9,” so the sudden change did not count. His paddle noticeably differed from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, who all gave the model “8s.”
Simmons repeatedly commented on female dancers’ appearances throughout the night. He debated who was more “hot hot hot,” football vet Danny Amendola or his pro dancer Witney Carson. The rock star also claimed that actress Chandler Kinney “fogged up [his] glasses,” and that she “moved [him]—not just with [her] gyrations, but with [her] beautiful face.”
The celebrity contestants did not seem pleased by the singer’s behavior. “Not even the scores, but the commentary was crazy,” Bachelorette star Jenn Tran told The New York Post. “He messed it all up, Gene, goddammit,” her dance partner, Sasha Farber, laughed.
After the show, Kinney also weighed in on the score discrepancy. “It was entertaining for sure,” the Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin actress said. “I couldn’t predict what he was going to say next, so if that’s not good TV, I don’t know what is.”
Simmons’ comments have not gone over the heads of those on social media. “Never come back to DWTS,” wrote one user on Simmons’ recent Instagram post.
Another viewer wrote on X, “Dear @officialdwts , Shame on Gene Simmons for treating this like a beauty pageant. Never have him on the show again. EVER. He ruined it. #gross #DWTS With love, Everyone.”
At the end of the evening, VelJohnson and actor Eric Roberts were sent home in a double elimination, while Bachelor star Joey Graziadei landed at the top of the leaderboard.