Gene Simmons, the rock and roll icon, made waves as a guest judge on “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS) during the “Hair Metal Night” episode in week four. While some viewers were initially excited about his appearance, many were left uncomfortable by his comments throughout the show.
As the DWTS judges critiqued contestants Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong, Simmons remarked on Kinney’s appearance in a way that left viewers unsettled. He removed his sunglasses and commented, “Chandler, you fogged up my glasses,” before continuing with praise that focused more on her looks than her performance. He concluded by stating that Kinney had a “big future” due to her talent.
Later in the episode, Simmons directed similar comments toward contestants Danny Amendola and Witney Carson. He made remarks about their physical attractiveness, telling the pair that it was hard for him to decide “which one is more hot, hot, hot.” His comments were met with cheers from the audience, but many found them inappropriate, especially when he told Amendola that Carson made him “look good” and advised him to hit the gym.
Simmons continued his pattern of commenting on appearances when he critiqued Reginald VelJohnson and Emma Slater. He praised VelJohnson’s performance but again focused on his partner, calling her a “beautiful woman” who knew how to move.
Social media quickly reacted to Simmons’ behavior. On Instagram, viewers expressed their discomfort, with one user calling his comments “absolutely atrocious” and “creepy.” Another criticized his scoring, stating it was based solely on physical appearance rather than skill. Reddit users echoed these sentiments, with one person admitting they turned off the episode due to Simmons’ inappropriate comments. Others remarked on the discomfort of watching Simmons make such remarks on national television, even speculating how his wife, Shannon Tweed, might feel hearing these comments.
Despite the backlash against Simmons, some fans had expressed excitement before the episode aired, calling him a “living legend” and praising the choice of a rock and roll guest judge.
Aside from the controversy surrounding Simmons, the episode also saw the elimination of two contestants: Reginald VelJohnson and famous actor Eric Roberts. VelJohnson shared a few words about his journey, expressing his gratitude for the experience and for his dance partner, Emma Slater. Roberts similarly praised his partnership with Britt Stewart, calling it one of the best work experiences of his career.
Fans were heartbroken to see VelJohnson and Roberts leave the competition, with many expressing their sadness online. As they bid farewell, the remaining contestants moved forward in the competition, including Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong, Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson, and several other celebrity-dancer pairs.
