Guillermo Rodriguez is still competing on Dancing with the Stars after surviving a second elimination night despite receiving another low score from the judges.
Rodriguez and professional partner Witney Carson earned 12 points out of 30 during the Sept. 22 episode, titled “Viral Hits Night.” The result left them at the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard, but viewer support again kept the pair in the competition.
Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten were eliminated at the end of the episode, leaving 13 couples in the season 35 competition.
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Guillermo Rodriguez says he initially wanted to go home
Before his first performance, Rodriguez repeatedly told people around the show that he wanted viewers to vote against him. He later explained that the reality of competing was more stressful than he expected, particularly once he learned he would have to prepare for another live performance.
“At the beginning, I wanted to go home,” Rodriguez said during an appearance on the official Dancing with the Stars podcast hosted by Andy Richter.
Rodriguez said his attitude changed after he learned that he had survived the first elimination. Instead of leaving the ballroom, he had only a few days to learn another routine and return to the competition.
That shift has given the season a different storyline. Rodriguez entered the show as a television personality with no established ballroom background, but he is now trying to turn his unexpected survival into a longer run.
Witney Carson defended his first performance
Carson, who won the previous season with Robert Irwin, has also pushed back against the criticism Rodriguez received during the premiere.
The pair’s first routine, a cha-cha to Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff,” received 10 points out of 30 on Sept. 15. Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli each awarded the couple a three, while Carrie Ann Inaba gave them a four.
The total was the lowest score of the first night and one of the lowest single-performance totals in the show’s history. Rodriguez and Carson nevertheless avoided elimination when the judges’ scores were combined with viewer voting.
Carson later described some of the premiere scoring as unfairly harsh and argued that Rodriguez had followed her choreography, recovered from mistakes and performed with energy. She has emphasized that Rodriguez is learning the fundamentals while working under the pressure of a live television broadcast.
Rodriguez remains at the bottom after week two
The second performance showed some improvement in commitment, but it did not produce a major jump on the scoreboard. Rodriguez and Carson performed a paso doble to Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been” and received four points from each judge.
The 12-point total tied the lowest score of the night. De Laurentiis and Bersten also received 12 points, but the combination of judges’ scores and audience votes sent De Laurentiis home instead.
The result underlines how Dancing with the Stars is not decided by the judges alone. Viewers vote during the live broadcast, and those votes are combined with the panel’s scores to determine which couples advance.
That system has allowed Rodriguez to remain in the competition even though his cumulative judges’ total is the lowest among the remaining couples. His first two routines have produced a combined 22 points out of a possible 60.
What comes next for Guillermo Rodriguez
Rodriguez now has another week to demonstrate whether his increased willingness to rehearse can translate into stronger technique. The paso doble requires sharper posture, controlled movement and a more deliberate attack than the playful elements that defined his premiere routine.
Carson’s challenge will be to build a routine that suits Rodriguez’s strengths while giving him enough technical content to show measurable progress. The partnership also has to maintain the humour and personality that have helped Rodriguez connect with viewers.
Dancing with the Stars continues Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available on Hulu the following day. Rodriguez and Carson are scheduled to return for the next live competition on Sept. 29, 2026.
For now, Rodriguez’s position is clear: he remains one of the lowest-scoring dancers on the show, but he is also one of the contestants viewers have chosen to keep in the ballroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Guillermo Rodriguez get eliminated from Dancing with the Stars?
No. Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson survived the Sept. 22, 2026 elimination and remain in season 35.
What score did Guillermo Rodriguez receive in week two?
Rodriguez and Carson received 12 out of 30 points for their paso doble during Viral Hits Night.
Why did Guillermo Rodriguez say he wanted to leave the show?
He said before the competition began that he repeatedly wanted viewers to send him home because he found the pressure of preparing for live performances stressful.
Who was eliminated instead of Guillermo Rodriguez?
Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten were eliminated during the Sept. 22 episode.
Who is Guillermo Rodriguez’s Dancing with the Stars partner?
His professional partner is Witney Carson, the reigning champion from the previous season.
Fact-Checked: Key dates, cast details, podcast information, scores and elimination results were checked against ABC and the official Dancing with the Stars podcast listing.
Disclaimer: Competition results remain subject to the show’s judges’ scoring and live viewer voting.