The competition on Dancing With the Stars is getting tougher, but Guillermo Rodriguez’s journey has come to an end. The Jimmy Kimmel Live! personality and his professional partner, Witney Carson, were eliminated on Tuesday, October 13, becoming the sixth couple to leave Season 35.
The elimination came during Week 5’s “Super Bowl Night,” which brought football-inspired energy to the ballroom and delivered another dramatic turn in the competition.
Guillermo Rodriguez exits after salsa performance
Rodriguez and Carson performed a salsa routine to Bad Bunny’s “Tití Me Preguntó” for the themed episode. Their performance earned a combined score of 22 out of 40 from the judges, leaving them at the bottom of the leaderboard.
Following the announcement, Rodriguez expressed his gratitude to the show and his partner.
“Thank you to everyone on Dancing With the Stars, thank you very much,” he said. “I had a lot of fun. It was great. Witney, I love you for teaching me how to dance.”
Carson also praised their time together, thanking Rodriguez for making the season so enjoyable and noting how much he had looked after her throughout the competition.
Despite their elimination, the pair’s partnership remained a highlight of Rodriguez’s experience on the show.
Jenna Dewan and Ezra Frech tie for the top score
While Rodriguez and Carson struggled to climb the leaderboard, two other couples delivered the night’s highest-scoring performances.
Jenna Dewan and professional partner Val Chmerkovskiy tied with Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, each earning 36 out of 40 points. ESPN commentator Joe Buck joined the panel as a special guest judge for the episode.
The contrasting results highlighted just how quickly the competition can shift as the remaining couples fight to stay in the running.
Julia Stiles brings back Save the Last Dance nostalgia
The episode also delivered a nostalgic moment for fans of early-2000s dance films. Julia Stiles revisited the spirit of Save the Last Dance, 25 years after starring in the movie.
Paired with professional dancer Ezra Sosa, Stiles performed a jazz routine to Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny From the Block,” incorporating hip-hop moves reminiscent of the 2001 film.
Sean Patrick Thomas, who played her on-screen love interest Derek in Save the Last Dance, watched the performance from the audience, adding another layer of nostalgia to the evening.
Who has been eliminated from Season 35?
Rodriguez and Carson join five other celebrities who have already departed the competition this season.
The eliminations so far are:
- Week 5: Guillermo Rodriguez, TV personality
- Week 4: Ciara Miller, reality TV star
- Week 3: Taylor Hanson, singer
- Week 2: Giada De Laurentiis, chef
- Week 1: Conner Leavitt, reality TV star, and Sarah Jane Nader, influencer
With six couples now eliminated, the remaining contestants face increasing pressure as the season progresses.
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the following day.
Source: Compiled from various sources
