Gene Simmons faced an unfavorable reaction during his guest judging appearance on Dancing With the Stars. The musician, who was a judge for the show’s Hair Metal Night, was met with boos from the audience after scoring Reginald VelJohnson’s cha cha performance to “I Wanna Rock” by Twisted Sister. VelJohnson, paired with professional dancer Emma Slater, received a score of 6 from Carrie Ann Inaba, followed by 5s from judges Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and Simmons.
Audience discontent was noticeable when Hough announced his score, but boos intensified when Simmons did the same. Before the scores were revealed, Simmons had offered positive remarks to VelJohnson, noting that he had embodied the spirit of the iconic Kiss rocker for his dance. “You have a beautiful partner who can move, but as someone who’s performed for decades, it’s all about the attitude,” Simmons said.
Despite VelJohnson, 72, receiving lower scores in season 33, Inaba highlighted his status as a crowd favorite. “You’re so engaging to watch. You’re doing fewer steps than others, but somehow we’re all invested in your performances,” she remarked.
Tuesday’s episode featured pairs performing to classic rock anthems, showcasing vibrant routines and hairstyles reminiscent of legendary bands from the past. Other performances included Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold’s foxtrot to “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake, Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong’s jive to “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister, Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten’s jive to “Cum on Feel the Noize” by Quiet Riot, along with Danny Amendola and Witney Carson’s paso doble to “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi, among others.