People Criticize ‘DWTS’ Judge for Underscoring the Best Dance of the Night

Aside from causing an uproar on social media, the latest "DWTS" episode featured a special moment that involved co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough.

As "Dancing with the Stars" ("DWTS") lit up for Rock Hall Night, all eyes were on one duo who brought fire, fury, and footwork that rocked the floor. But what was meant to be a night of celebration quickly spiraled into fan outrage when guest judge Flavor Flav delivered a score so widely contested, it's still echoing across social media.

Netizen comment about "DWTS" guest judge Flavor Flav, posted on November 5, 2025. | Source: Instagram/dancingwiththestars

With the stage bathed in fiery orange light and hazes of smoke erupting beneath the glittering disco ball, Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy took their opening positions — still, intense, and locked in a bold stance that foreshadowed what was to come.

Chmerkovskiy tugged dramatically at Earle's costume as she stood fierce and unflinching, her expression matching the brooding rock anthem that filled the ballroom.

Val Chmerkovskiy tugging at Alix Earle's outfit as they begin their paso doble during Rock Hall Night on "DWTS," posted on November 5, 2025. | Source: YouTube/Dancing With The Stars

As the first beat of Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" hit, Earle spun out while Chmerkovskiy ripped away a panel of fabric, whipping it through the air in sync with her high-energy skirt twirls.

What followed was a flurry of purposeful movement as the duo descended the stage steps with gripping control, their hands clasped and bodies twisting through tight turns, commanding the floor with a fiery paso doble.

Val Chmerkovskiy waving a piece of fabric around as Alix Earle walks around him. | Source: YouTube/Dancing With The Stars

Earle's high kicks and powerful footwork radiated confidence, while Chmerkovskiy matched her with smoldering flair, as he led their synchronized choreography with dynamic precision.

The routine closed with the pair dropping low onto the floor — an electrifying finish that brought the audience to their feet and set the night's bar sky-high.

Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy dancing a paso doble. | Source: YouTube/Dancing With The Stars

Shortly after their performance aired, the official "DWTS" Instagram account cemented the duo's status as crowd favorites by posting a striking carousel of photos from their dance. The caption reads, "Alix and Val answered our Paso Doble prayers with a 🔥 #RockHallNight performance! 🤘 #DWTS."

Val Chmerkovskiy and Alix Earle after they finished their routine and ended in a pose on the floor, posted on November 5, 2025. | Source: Instagram/dancingwiththestars

The images showcased the pair in full rockstar mode: in one shot, they struck fierce poses with mock-snarls, their leather-clad costumes and smoldering expressions radiated edge. Another photo captured the climactic final pose on the ballroom floor — Chmerkovskiy crouched low as Earle leaned into him, both framed by the blazing stage lights behind them.

A different image depicted an intense dip mid-routine, with Earle arched dramatically backward in Chmerkovskiy's arms.

Val Chmerkovskiy and Alix Earle posing on the ballroom floor. | Source: Instagram/dancingwiththestars

While the performance itself was met with widespread acclaim, the scoring that followed sparked swift and fiery backlash online. Viewers were especially outraged by Flavor Flav's judging, which many felt fell short of recognizing the quality of Earle and Chmerkovskiy's performance.

"THE FACT HE ROBBED HER OF A PERFECT SCORE," one spectator exclaimed, while another asserted, "Ok Flava Flav, you ruined it. That was a perfect dance. Just give everyone 10, I'd appreciate that more than ruining what should have been a perfect score. Alix you were INCREDIBLE [sic]."

Val Chmerkovskiy and Alix Earle during their paso doble. | Source: Instagram/dancingwiththestars

Echoing that sentiment, someone else wrote, "Flava Flav [sic] should not be judging!!! This is insane! This dance was deserving of a perfect score!"

Frustration over the guest judge's role in the outcome became a running theme across social platforms. "Only person going home tonight should be Flavor Flav," one netizen opined.

Others took a broader aim at the show's casting decisions, with comments like, "Stop bringing guest judges who don't have an idea what they are doing" and "So like can we stop having guest judges [sic]," both reflecting a growing sentiment that star power shouldn't outweigh scoring expertise.

Meanwhile, some people simply expressed their unwavering support for the performance itself. "This was the best dance of the night if anyone says different they are wrong [sic]," stated someone else.

Amid the online uproar over 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Flavor Flav's score, the episode as a whole offered several standout moments that helped keep spirits high in the ballroom.

Week 8, which aired live on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, embraced the theme of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night — a tribute to the legendary artists being honored at the upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, scheduled for November 8. Each of the eight remaining couples delivered routines set to timeless rock anthems, celebrating the genre's enduring impact on pop culture and performance.

But it wasn't just the competitors stirring things up. Adding to the night's spectacle, the beloved team dance competition returned with an unexpected twist: co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough didn't just emcee the action — they became part of it.

Hough joined Team Kool, which included Earle and Chmerkovskiy, Andy Richter and Emma Slater, and Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, grooving to a live performance of Kool & the Gang's "Celebration."

Meanwhile, Ribeiro threw down with Team Chicago — comprised of Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov, Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, and Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, plus Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach — as they took on Chicago's live rendition of "25 or 6 to 4."

The team showdown gave fans even more of a reason to stay glued to their screens, especially with real-time voting in effect. Viewer votes were tallied alongside the judges' scores to determine the night's final outcome, and one couple's journey came to an end before the curtain closed on the rock-infused evening.

Each star brought their own flair to the ballroom floor, delivering dances set to iconic hits from some of music's greatest legends.

Chiles and Sosa came out strong with a high-powered jazz number to Ike & Tina Turner's "River Deep — Mountain High," earning a near-perfect 38 out of 40. Meanwhile, Earle and Chmerkovskiy's now-viral paso doble landed them a score of 39 — just shy of perfection — meaning Flavor Flav had to have scored them a 9.

Efron and Karagach kept the tempo high with a jive to Elton John's "I'm Still Standing," securing 36 points. Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten scored 37 with their graceful Viennese waltz set to Dionne Warwick's "What the World Needs Now Is Love."

Irwin and Carson impressed with their own paso doble to "Icky Thump" by The White Stripes, earning 38 points. Meanwhile, Leavitt and Ballas turned up the drama with a fierce paso doble to Ozzy Osbourne's "No More Tears," tying for the highest individual score of the night at 39.

Unfortunately, not all performances soared equally, though. Fishel and Pashkov delivered a heartfelt contemporary to Aerosmith's "Dream On" and received 34 points. Richter and Slater followed with a contemporary routine to "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys, and ended up at the bottom of the leaderboard with a 30.

The intensity didn't end there. During the fan-favorite team round, Team Chicago's dazzling performance earned them a perfect 40.

Meanwhile, Team Kool's energetic performance earned a strong 38. Despite her team's victory and her robust performance, Fishel was ultimately sent home, marking an emotional farewell after her and Pashkov's heartfelt routine.

With the stakes rising and the finale inching closer, the ballroom is becoming more unpredictable — and more competitive — than ever.

Beyond the competition itself, the show featured additional dances to a dynamic mix of genres and icons, with routines set to everything from Public Enemy's anthemic "Fight the Power" to Def Leppard's gritty "Pour Some Sugar On Me."

The energy stayed high with vibrant choreography set to OutKast's genre-bending hit "Hey Ya!" and the soulful funk of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground."

Capping off the night were two unforgettable live performances by legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees — Kool & the Gang and Chicago — whose presence added an extra layer of prestige and nostalgia to the already star-studded evening.

As the season edges closer to its finale, this week's episode not only honored music history but also set the stage for an explosive final stretch on the dance floor.