Alfonso Ribeiro is pushing back against claims that Dancing With the Stars does not always rely on viewer votes. The show’s co-host recently responded after Alexa PenaVega shared a story about a former contestant who questioned the results. Her account has brought fresh attention to how the competition works. Ribeiro made his position clear in the comments on her podcast clip.
Alfonso Ribeiro disputes rigging speculation in Alexa PenaVega’s podcast clip
Alexa discussed the story on an Oct. 22 episode of her “LEXLOS” podcast with husband Carlos PenaVega. She recalled competing on Season 21 with Hayes Grier, who was 15 at the time. According to Alexa, Grier once questioned the show’s results while they were all near the bottom. She remembered him saying, “Man, I think this show’s rigged. I have more votes than anybody.”
Alexa disagreed with his claim, pointing to Grier’s huge online following. “I know you have more votes than anybody here because of the millions and millions of followers,” she recalled telling him. She added that fans could easily vote by text. Still, Alexa said she believes votes matter, while noting, “But the show’s also produced.”
Ribeiro responded directly to the clip in the comments. “No chance. We want everyone who’s popular to stay on,” he wrote. He added, “It’s basic logic.” Alexa then asked him to watch the full podcast episode, explaining that the short clip began in the middle of her story and that she wanted to talk about “sweet Hayes.”
The couple also discussed their own complicated experience on Season 21 in 2015. Alexa danced with Mark Ballas and finished sixth, while Carlos partnered with Witney Carson and reached the finale. Carlos and Carson lost to Derek Hough and Bindi Irwin. Alexa claimed Ballas and Carson refused to share a room during the season, while Carlos called the situation “hard” to manage; neither pro has publicly addressed the alleged conflict.
