Fans of Dancing with the Stars are expressing their shock over Gene Simmons using his position as a guest judge to “sexualize women.”
The 75-year-old KISS frontman, known for his larger-than-life stage presence and persona, joined the show to critique the contestants on Hair Metal Night as they danced to iconic rock anthems from the 1980s.
But audiences are now demanding the network “issue an apology” for “putting a creep on the show,” and for providing him a platform to voice his “cringe-worthy” and “sexist” comments.
On the Tuesday, October 9 episode of Dancing with the Stars, KISS rocker Gene Simmons raised quite a few eyebrows with his controversial guest appearance.
As part of the show’s Hair Metal Night, Simmons joined regular judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli to critique the celebrity dancers.
Despite the high energy of the nostalgia-filled performance set to hits like Cherry Pie and Rock You Like a Hurricane, Simmons’ sexually suggestive remarks overshadowed the night for many fans.
While his rock persona has long been associated with pushing boundaries, many felt his behavior wasn’t suited for the lighthearted nature of the competition series.
Throughout the episode, Simmons, 75, made several remarks that focused less on the dancing and more on the female dancer’s looks, which many viewers call “creepy.”
After former NFL wide receiver Danny Amendola and Witney Carson hit the dance floor, “The Demon” said he couldn’t figure out who was more “hot hot hot.”
“Danny, I’m telling you, you’re right next to somebody – one of the most beautiful women on the planet. She makes you look good. Buddy, you gotta hit the gym. You gotta get in there,” added Simmons.
And then, referring to Emma Slater who was dancing with actor Reginald VelJohnson dancer, he said: “You’ve got a beautiful woman right beside you, who can twist it and turn it, and knows how to move it and, you know, all that.”
The rock legend also had words for VelJohnson. “I wanna tell you, as a guy that’s been on the stage for half a century around the world, I’m kind of a big deal, Reggie,” Simmons said. “It’s all in the attitude and you’ve got something in that beautiful face, they love you!”
Perhaps one of his cringiest remarks was directed to actor-singer Chandler Kinney. Explaining that her moves “fogged up” his glasses, Simmons removed his dark shades and said, “You moved me, not just with your gyrations and so on, but your beautiful face and how you were into the emotion of it – top to bottom.”
He did however offer one relevant opinion to Kinney when he praised her talents, noting that she has a “big future” ahead of her.
Social media quickly filled with backlash, with many expressing their discomfort and frustration. Some viewers even went as far as to call him the “worst guest judge” in the show’s 33-season run.
“I usually like Gene Simmons and think he’s funny. But that was not the case as a guest judge. Very inappropriate and just not helpful,” writes one cyber fan on the DWTS Facebook site.
A second shares, “It was uncomfortable for us watching, can’t even imagine how the women felt. And he wasn’t scoring dances, he was just giving out random numbers.”
Gene was a bust! His comments and feedback were inappropriate along with the scores.”
A third critic adds, “His comments on all the girls was cringe!”
Another user calls Simmons “vulgar” and says he’s “the worst judge ever
Meanwhile, other online citizens are calling out ABC and Disney+, suggesting the network and streaming service apologize to fans of DWTS.
“Y’all owe the biggest apology to your fanbase (which is primarily women) & the dancers for putting that creep on your show and allowing for him to sexualize them on live TV,” one netizen writes on Facebook.
A second pens, “They need to apologize for having Gene Simmons. It was cringe-worthy. His comments were sexist, and he was just awful.”
“But they had a felon on the show this season,” adds another user, who’s referring to Anna Delvey (Sorokin), the convicted fraudster who sparked a lot of controversy with her appearance on September 17, the first episode of the DWTS season.
What do you think of DWTS decision in having Simmons as a guest judge? Please let us know what you think and then share this story so we can hear what others have to say!
Ty Pennington Hits Back with a Stunning Response After Body-Shaming Comments!
Ty Pennington is famous for being the handsome carpenter on *Trading Spaces*, the DIY show that inspired fans everywhere to try designing their own spaces.
After 20 years on TV, some fans are now suggesting that Ty should get a makeover himself.
Ty Pennington Hits Back with a Stunning Response After Body-Shaming Comments!
Ty Pennington is famous for being the handsome carpenter on *Trading Spaces*, the DIY show that inspired fans everywhere to try designing their own spaces.
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After 20 years on TV, some fans are now suggesting that Ty should get a makeover himself.
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Born Gary Tygert Burton, Pennington, now 58, is known for his playful side. He loves sharing funny videos of his dance moves on Instagram, often with his new wife laughing in the background.
Pennington is a natural entertainer. He used to be a model for J-Crew and initially wanted to be a graphic designer, working in construction to support himself while he was in art school.
After a serious car accident at 27 ended his modeling career, he decided to switch to carpentry.
“I thought my career was taking off, but then I had a terrible car accident,” Pennington says. “I put away my modeling headshot, grabbed my tool bag, and went back to construction. Nine years later, I got a call to audition for *Trading Spaces*… and the rest is history.”
Pennington first got noticed in Hollywood as a set designer for the 1995 film *Leaving Las Vegas*, starring Nicolas Cage. But it was his role as a builder on *Trading Spaces*—a show that changed how people think about home renovations—that made him famous.
After *Trading Spaces*, Pennington hosted *Extreme Makeover: Home Edition* from 2003 to 2012, winning two Primetime Emmy Awards for the show.
When Jesse Tyler Ferguson from *Modern Family* took over hosting in the show’s 11th season and for part of the 2020 revival, Pennington admitted on Instagram that it was tough for him. He felt his ego took a hit and started doubting himself. But he acknowledged that the job was never just about him and still considered it one of his best experiences.
Pennington didn’t let this setback stop him. He returned to *Trading Spaces* for its revival from 2018 to 2019.
Now, he’s a mentor and design expert on HGTV’s *Battle on the Beach*, which is in its third season, and he hosts *Rock the Block*, now in its fourth season.
Pennington has written two books: *Good Design Can Change Your Life: Beautiful Rooms, Inspiring Stories* and *Ty’s Tricks: Home Repair Secrets Plus Cheap and Easy Projects to Transform Any Room.*
He is also open about having ADHD and works to raise awareness about it.
In 2007, when he was 41, he was charged with a DUI. He was put on three years of probation and had to complete a 90-day alcohol program.
“Drinking and driving is never okay. I’ve admitted my mistake and will follow the court’s decision. I hope this experience helps others as much as it has helped me,” he said.
In November 2021, the popular builder married Kellee Merrell, a social media manager from Vancouver, who enjoys his daily funny posts.
Last year, after he posted a funny video of himself on the beach with his shorts hiked up, some fans criticized his now bigger stomach compared to his old six-pack abs. He responded with, “…by the way, I’m pushing my stomach out, but okay…”
The *Extreme Makeover: Home Edition* star, who still looks great, has faced negative comments about his age and appearance.
In a long Instagram post titled “Thoughts on Aging,” Pennington responded to the criticism he received. He reminded people to be kind to both men and women.
He wrote: “What started as a funny moment to make my wife laugh ended up being torn apart by strangers. With lots of views comes a lot of hate! Comments like ‘disgusting,’ ‘gross,’ ‘oh, he’s so old now,’ and ‘he’s gotten fat’ made me wonder if I’d get the same comments if I was still young and fit. There’s a strong movement to accept all body types and aging for women, which is fantastic, but maybe we should offer the same kindness to men?”
Pennington, known for *Trading Spaces*, mentioned that he was much younger when he first appeared on TV.
He said, “I often get comments like ‘What happened to him???’ Someone even said it’s due to ‘lack of exercise,’ which isn’t true. I work out harder than ever—seven days a week (being over 50 is no joke). What happened is that it’s been 22 YEARS since I first appeared on TV! No, I don’t have a six-pack or the same hairstyle, but I have gained wisdom, empathy, and life lessons. At 57, I’ve never been happier! I’m human and I have feelings. Yes, I’m older, but I think it’s pretty cool.”
We think Ty Pennington is still hot and we love watching his silly Instagram videos. What is your favorite show with Pennington? And did you catch the DIY bug after watching Trading Spaces?
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