Jimmy Kimmel Declines 'Dancing With the Stars' Offer
The late-night host expressed pride in his sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez's performance on the show but ruled out his own participation.
Jimmy Kimmel, host of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," shared his thoughts on his sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez's recent appearance on "Dancing With the Stars," stating he was proud of Rodriguez's efforts but has no intention of joining the competition himself.
"No, no, no, I would not," Kimmel told Page Six exclusively at the LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade Stand event in Los Angeles. He firmly rejected the idea of participating in the ballroom dance competition.
Kimmel, 58, admitted he was "very proud" of Rodriguez, 55, who was eliminated during Week 5 of the current "Dancing With the Stars" season. "I’ve never seen him work harder at anything. Or I’ve never even seen him work hard before," Kimmel quipped, calling Rodriguez's performance "exciting" to watch.
Rodriguez and his professional partner, Witney Carson, were eliminated on October 13, following a salsa performance to Bad Bunny's "Tití Me Preguntó." The pair received a total score of 22 out of 40 from the judges, including guest judge Joe Buck, placing them at the bottom of the leaderboard for that week.
Following his elimination, Rodriguez expressed gratitude for the experience. "I had a lot of fun. It was great," he said. "Witney, I love you for teaching me how to dance."
Carson, who is pregnant with her third child, also thanked Rodriguez for making the season enjoyable and for his support throughout their time on the show. "Thank you for making this season just so fun, so enjoyable," she stated.
Kimmel’s attendance at the LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade Stand event highlighted his support for the foundation, which raises funds for childhood cancer research. Kimmel noted the organization's significant impact on supporting children and their families.
This cause is particularly close to Kimmel, whose own son, Billy, 9, has overcome significant health challenges, including a congenital heart condition and multiple surgeries. Kimmel reported that Billy is "doing great" and was enjoying a birthday party at the time of the interview.
New episodes of "Dancing With the Stars" air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu.