A controversial win several years ago caused DWTS to overhaul its voting system. Fans are fed up again with the ‘unfair’ voting process. The producers are reportedly looking at a major change for next season. Keep reading for all the details.
Infamous DWTS Champ Sparked Voting Overhaul
DWTS is one of several reality competitions that rely on viewer votes to choose which celebrities advance and who gets sent home. The votes from home are added to the scores from the judges to reveal the bottom three. One or more couples with the least amount of votes are eliminated and must leave the studio in Los Angeles, California, that night.
But much like American Idol votes were tampered with in early seasons by viewers voting for the worst contestant, the voting system at DWTS had a shocking result. Country radio host Bobby Bones won Season 27 of the competition despite consistently scoring at the bottom of the pack.
He recently admitted that he cheated to win the competition. When the show returned for Season 28, the voting system was changed to avoid another controversial win. The judges agreed to judge based on technical aspects and not the reaction from the crowd.
Furthermore, votes could only be cast while the show was airing on the East Coast, leaving other viewers to vote without seeing the actual dances. The new system worked for a few seasons, but fan complaints increased during the show’s current season. Viewers are concerned that one celebrity who keeps getting voted through might have a heart attack on live TV.
Producers Plan Another Major Voting Change After Complaints
DWTS insiders already revealed that a major shakeup is coming to the pros next season. Several fan favorites are in danger of not returning due to their poor performance this season. Now, a source close to the ABC show claims that the producers plan for another big change to the voting system.
The current voting system allows viewers to vote through text or online at abc.com. Texting is by far the more popular voting option. But the rise of social media platforms has left an untapped resource for votes. The celebrities and their pro partners have leaned into making TikTok content in the last few seasons.
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A source told The U.S. Sun that DWTS producers are considering adding other voting options through a social media platform. “The execs have been adamant about integrating things like social media into the voting process, specifically TikTok,” the source claimed.
The insider added, “It hasn’t been ironed out yet, but they’re trying to make voting more accessible and want it to reach a wider audience for season 35.”
Let us know in the comments what you think about DWTS adding a voting option on social media.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger