“Dancing with the Stars” fans criticise guest judge Gene Simmons for ‘creepy’, ‘misogynistic’ comments
Rock legend Gene Simmons has come under fire from “Dancing with the Stars” fans for his comments during the latest episode of the reality dance competition series. Simmons, the co-founder and co-lead singer of the rock band Kiss, appeared as a guest judge on the show, where he made remarks that were deemed as “misogynistic” and “creepy” by viewers.
Sitting alongside regular judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough, Simmons provided feedback to the contestants following their performances. However, his comments seemed to overly focus on the physical appearance of the female celebrities and dancers. For instance, he complimented a contestant’s beauty and facial expressions rather than her dance routine, causing backlash from the audience.
The 75-year-old musician made remarks like, “Chandler, you fogged up my glasses,” to one contestant, and commented on the attractiveness of another contestant’s partner. His comments were criticised for being inappropriate and disrespectful towards the female participants on the show.
Following the episode, viewers took to social media to express their outrage over Simmons’ behaviour. Many called out his comments as sexist and unwelcome, with some demanding that he be removed from the show. Fans expressed disappointment in the choice of Simmons as a guest judge and called for an apology from the show’s producers.
The controversy surrounding Simmons’ appearance as a guest judge has sparked a discussion about the importance of respectful behaviour and appropriate feedback on a show like “Dancing with the Stars.” The episode ended with a double elimination, sending two contestants home, as the show continues to unfold.
“Dancing with the Stars” airs on ABC on Tuesdays at 8pm, with episodes available for streaming on Hulu the following day. The Independent has reached out to ABC and Simmons’ representative for comment on the matter.