‘DWTS’ guest judge Gene Simmons booed for Reginald VelJohnson score

Gene Simmons did not get the warmest reception during his judging on Dancing With the Stars.

Simmons, who fittingly served as a guest judge for Tuesday evening’s Hair Metal Night, received a chorus of boos after revealing his score for Reginald VelJohnson, who danced a cha cha to “I Wanna Rock” by Twisted Sister with pro partner Emma Slater. The pair received a generous 6 from Carrie Ann Inaba, and then 5s from fellow judges Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and Simmons.

The crowd first started expressing their displeasure when Hough revealed his score card, but booed particularly loudly when Simmons continued the trend.

Prior to the tallies being announced, Simmons had some kind words for VelJohnson, who told co-host Julianne Hough that he had channeled the iconic Kiss rocker for his performance. “Hey Reggie, you’ve got a beautiful woman right beside you who can twist it and turn it and knows how to move it and all that,” Simmons said. “But I want to tell you, as a guy that’s been on the stage for half a century around the world, I’m kind of a big deal, Reggie. It’s all in the attitude. And you’ve got something in that beautiful face. They love you.”

Though VelJohnson, 72, has consistently gotten scores on the lower end of the pack so far in season 33, Inaba also pointed out that he’s been a fan favorite in her remarks. “You blow my mind, okay?” she told VelJohnson and Slater. “There’s something about you that is just so engaging to watch. You’re doing the fewest steps of anybody else in this competition, but somehow we’re all so with you, and that is worth mentioning, right?”

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Tuesday night’s episode saw the pairs jamming out to iconic rock songs and paying homage to the best bands from past decades. The routines were big, but the hair was even bigger. Some of the other dances this week included Stephen Nedoroscik and pro Rylee Arnold’s foxtrot to “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake, Chandler Kinney and pro Brandon Armstrong dancing a jive to “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister, Ilona Maher and pro Alan Bersten performing a jive to “Cum on Feel the Noize” by Quiet Riot, Danny Amendola and pro Witney Carson dancing a paso doble to “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi, and more.