Why FormerDancing with the StarsContestant Antonio Sabáto Jr. Thinks the Show Is 'Rigged'

Mar. 15, 2025

Antonio Sabato Jr. attends the “Death Of A Nation” Premiere at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on July 31, 2018.Photo:Greg Doherty/Getty

Greg Doherty/Getty

A formerDancing with the Starscontestant is lifting the lid on why he believes the fan-favorite show is rigged.Antonio Sabáto Jr. joinedCheryl Burkeon the Sept. 23 episode of her podcast,Sex, Lies and Spray Tans, and the former ballroom partners reflected on their time on the show together.Sabátor Jr., 52, who competed on season 19 in 2014, didn’t hold back as he told Burke: “To be honest, I think that the show is partly rigged in a sense.““It is rigged,” he claimed. “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.“Sabáto Jr. pointed out that “the majority of past winners are dancers, you know, that have some sort of [experience],” so he believes that “somebody who’s never danced” doesn’t really stand a chance at winning.Antonio Sabáto Jr. and Cheryl Burke on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 19.ABC/Craig SjodinIn his opinion, the show should feature celebrities who have “never danced,” rather than pitting stars with more experience than others against each other.“And also the judges, they know who they want, so you gotta keep that persona,” he said. “You gotta have personality. There’s just a lot of things that they want, that the show wants.“Burke pushed back a little bit against her former partner’s claims as she pointed out that one of the show’s earliest winners, NFL alumEmmitt Smith, won season 3 with her despite his lack of dancing experience.“Yeah, but he had moves. He had soul,” Sabáto Jr. said. “He was dancing at church. He had that thing going.“Alfonso Ribeiro, who now co-hosts the show withJulianne Hough, was another example Sabáto Jr. mentioned, as he recalled that Ribeiro, 53, “was tap dancing withMichael Jackson” in a 1984 Pepsi commercial, which he saw as a clear precursor to Ribeiro’s win in season 19.PEOPLE has reached out to ABC for comment.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Dancing with the Starsairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, and streams the next day on Hulu.

A formerDancing with the Starscontestant is lifting the lid on why he believes the fan-favorite show is rigged.

Antonio Sabáto Jr. joinedCheryl Burkeon the Sept. 23 episode of her podcast,Sex, Lies and Spray Tans, and the former ballroom partners reflected on their time on the show together.

Sabátor Jr., 52, who competed on season 19 in 2014, didn’t hold back as he told Burke: “To be honest, I think that the show is partly rigged in a sense.”

“It is rigged,” he claimed. “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.”

Sabáto Jr. pointed out that “the majority of past winners are dancers, you know, that have some sort of [experience],” so he believes that “somebody who’s never danced” doesn’t really stand a chance at winning.

Antonio Sabáto Jr. and Cheryl Burke on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 19.ABC/Craig Sjodin

ABC/Craig Sjodin

In his opinion, the show should feature celebrities who have “never danced,” rather than pitting stars with more experience than others against each other.

“And also the judges, they know who they want, so you gotta keep that persona,” he said. “You gotta have personality. There’s just a lot of things that they want, that the show wants.”

Burke pushed back a little bit against her former partner’s claims as she pointed out that one of the show’s earliest winners, NFL alumEmmitt Smith, won season 3 with her despite his lack of dancing experience.

“Yeah, but he had moves. He had soul,” Sabáto Jr. said. “He was dancing at church. He had that thing going.”

Alfonso Ribeiro, who now co-hosts the show withJulianne Hough, was another example Sabáto Jr. mentioned, as he recalled that Ribeiro, 53, “was tap dancing withMichael Jackson” in a 1984 Pepsi commercial, which he saw as a clear precursor to Ribeiro’s win in season 19.

PEOPLE has reached out to ABC for comment.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Dancing with the Starsairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, and streams the next day on Hulu.

source: people.com