“It is rigged”: Dancing with the Stars alum Antonio Sabáto Jr chimes in on pitting experienced stars against inexperienced celebrities 

Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) has captivated audiences since its debut in 2005 by combining celebrity appeal with competitive dancing. The show, now on its season 33, pairs well-known figures with professional dancers to compete in various dance styles, judged by a panel and voted on by viewers. However, the fairness of the show has often been questioned.

Recently, former contestant Antonio Sabáto Jr., who participated in Dancing with the Stars season 19 in 2014, sparked fresh debate by claiming the competition is "rigged" due to the disparity in dance experience among participants. Sabáto Jr. stated:

"It is rigged,...First of all, if you're not a dancer or you don't have dancing skills from a young age — you're not gonna win."

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Dancing with the Stars alum Antonio Sabáto Jr.'s allegations and comments about the show

Antonio Sabáto Jr. discussed his views during a conversation on Cheryl Burke's podcast, Sex, Lies and Spray Tans, on September 23, 2024. During his reflection on his time in Season 19 of DWTS, Sabáto Jr. stated:

"To be honest, I think that the show is partly rigged in a sense."

He explained that contestants with prior dance experience may have an advantage over those who have never danced before. Sabáto Jr. observed a pattern among past winners, stating:

"The majority of past winners are dancers, you know, that have some sort of [experience]."

He suggested that contestants with extensive dance training outperform those with no experience, affecting the competition's fairness. He further commented on the selection process, proposing that judges and producers might have predetermined preferences for winners. Implying that factors such as personality and public appeal might influence the judges' decisions, he said:

"The judges, they know who they want, so you gotta keep that persona,"

In addition to dance experience, Sabáto Jr. pointed out the difficulty of competing while managing other professional commitments. During his time on Dancing with the Stars, he was also hosting the remodeling show Fix It & Finish It, which divided his time and energy. He reflected:

"If I didn't have another job and we were just, like, in Hollywood... I think I would've probably lasted at least another week or two."

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Counterarguments and examples

Cheryl Burke, Sabáto Jr.'s former dance partner and experienced Dancing with the Stars professional, provided an alternative viewpoint. She mentioned NFL alum Emmitt Smith’s victory in season 3 as an example of a contestant who achieved success without prior dance training. Burke indicated that Smith’s natural charisma and dedication were significant factors in his win.

Sabáto Jr. recognized Smith’s success but attributed it to Smith's natural rhythm and soul, developed through activities like dancing in church. He suggested that even without formal training, individuals with inherent dance abilities might still hold an advantage, contributing to competition disparities.

Sabáto Jr. also mentioned Alfonso Ribeiro’s victory in season 19 as an example supporting his claim. Ribeiro, who had notable dance experience, including a 1984 Pepsi commercial where he tap-danced with Michael Jackson, competed in the same season as Sabáto Jr. He asserted that Ribeiro’s dancing skills gave him a significant advantage.

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The role of judges and audience

Sabáto Jr. examined the influence of the judges on Dancing with the Stars, noting that judges might favor participants who have certain personas or compelling personal stories, potentially affecting their scoring. He stated:

"You gotta have personality. There's just a lot of things that they want, that the show wants,"

The audience's role is also significant, as public votes can override judges' scores. This introduces another aspect to the perceived "rigging," where popularity and relatability can influence the outcome. Such dynamics underscore the complexity of balancing dance proficiency with entertainment value in a reality competition.

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Don't miss the excitement! New episodes of Dancing with the Stars resume with a spectacular 2-night event on October 7th and 8th at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+. Catch all the action the next day on Hulu.