KISS frontman Gene Simmons is under fire for his controversial remarks made during his guest judge appearance on the “Hair Metal Night” episode of ABC’s popular dance competition, “Dancing With the Stars.” Despite not being a part of the hair metal genre's heyday, Simmons, with his rockstar reputation, was invited to lend his star power to the show.

The episode showcased contestants dancing to iconic hits from the 80s and 90s from bands like Poison, Warrant, and Bon Jovi. The night kicked off with a special performance by Joel Hoekstra of Whitesnake, invigorating the audience with a rocking rendition of KISS's anthem "Rock and Roll All Nite."

However, Simmons quickly became the center of controversy for his feedback style. Viewers were left bewildered by his scoring, which seemed increasingly focused on participants’ physical looks rather than their dance capabilities. For instance, he gave a score of five out of ten to the pair consisting of Phaedra Parks from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, a stark contrast to the higher scores awarded by fellow judges.

One moment that particularly drew ire was his comment to actor Reginald VelJohnson, well-known for his roles in “Family Matters” and “Die Hard.” Simmons praised VelJohnson’s partner, suggesting that her presence was more valuable than the pair’s dance skills. Citing his own rockstar experience, he added, “It’s all in the attitude,” which many interpreted as patronizing and condescending.

In response to the mounting backlash, the show's producers even adjusted Simmons' rating, lowering his perfect score of 10 to a 9. This decision exemplifies the level of discontent among the audience over his perceived biases.

On social media, viewers condemned Simmons for his remarks, labelling them “creepy” and claiming they perpetuated a misogynistic attitude. A multitude of posts criticized his repeated comments about the physical appearances of female contestants, further fueling the conversation about the show’s judging standards.

One viewer encapsulated the sentiment perfectly with a GIF response, epitomizing the frustration felt by many: “Shut the fuck up!” Others echoed calls for Simmons to step down from any future judging opportunities on the series.

The incident has reignited discussions on how judges influence the competition, as well as the need to maintain a respectful environment for all contestants—regardless of their appearance. Whether this will affect Simmons' future appearances remains uncertain, but it’s clear that the backlash has left a significant mark on the show's reputation.

As the backlash continues, fans are eager to see how “Dancing With the Stars” will respond moving forward, especially regarding their choice of guest judges. Will this incident set a precedent for stricter oversight? Only time will tell!