Phaedra Parks wants Gene Simmons to check that.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star didn’t hold back on how she felt about the Kiss member giving her and partner Val Chmerkovskiy a five out of ten score for their Rock N’ Roll dance on Dancing With the Stars.
“I loved the routine,” she explained to Page Six in the ballroom Oct. 8. “I think we did good, despite Gene Simmons being a total ding-a-ling.”
Despite the middling score from the rocker, who was guest judging during Oct. 8’s Hair Metal night, fellow judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough gave the routine sevens. And Phaedra jokingly continued poking at Gene quipping, “I figure he didn’t like short Black women.”
Meanwhile Val—who Phaedra emphasized was a “wonderful” coach—added somewhat sarcastically, “It’s always fun to have a guest judge in the ballroom.”
Although she and Val weren’t booted from the series after their low-scoring performance—Reginald VelJohnson and Eric Roberts and their respective partners Emma Slater and Britt Stewart instead got the axe—Phaedra wasn’t the only one less-than-pleased with Gene’s guest appearance on the show. In fact, many fans expressed disappointment in his lack of decorum.
“Gene Simmons comments about the ladies are giving the energy of the gross uncle who corners you at the reunion #DWTS," wrote one fan on X, while another added, “Gene Simmons is seriously sucking all the energy out of the ballroom with his creepy comments about the female dancers.”
During the episode, Gene did, indeed, raise some eyebrows for his feedback burgeoning on innuendo.
“This is a brand new experience for me and it's difficult to look at you and to figure out which one is more hot, hot, hot," he told former NFL star Danny Amendola and his partner Witney Carson. “Danny, I'm telling you, you're right next to somebody, one of the more beautiful women on the planet.”
E! News has reached out to reps for Gene and ABC but has not yet heard back.
One fan summed up the critics response to the evening, writing on X after the show had ended Oct. 8, “Don’t y’all ever bring Gene Simmons back and thank you.”
With Rock N’ Roll night being over, Gene has officially evacuated the dance floor—at least for now. Keep reading to see the stars who are definitely not killing the groove.
Anna Delvey
The inspriation behind Inventing Anna traded her ankle bracelet for dancing shoes alongside partner Ezra Sosa. However, the fake heiress was eliminated during the season's Sept. 24 episode, with her saying that she learned "nothing" in her now-infamous, one-word farewell speech.
Ilona Maher
The Olympic rugby player was ready to ruck up the dance floor with pro Alan Bersten, finishing as the runner-up.
Chandler Kinney
The Disney Channel star tried to dance her way to the top with partner Brandon Armstrong and ultimately placed third.
Brooks Nader
The model and her partner Gleb Savchenko were ready to strut along the ballroom, but took their final bow on Oct. 15.
Reginald VelJohnson
All that mattered for the Family Matters alum and partner Emma Slater was taking home the Mirrorball Trophy. However, their journey was cut short during the second week of competition on Oct. 8.
Eric Roberts
The Dark Knight star was partnered with Britt Stewart. They were eliminated in the second week alongside Reginald and Emma.
Joey Graziadei
The Bachelor alum has found his rose between thorns in partner Jenna Johnson, winning season 33.
Tori Spelling
The alum of Beverly Hills, 90210 was oh so ready to dance alongside Pasha Pashkov. Unfortunately, the two last only one week and was cut from competition in a double elimination alongside Anna and Ezra.
Danny Amendola
The NFL pro and partner Witney Carson sure scored a touchdown on the dance floor, placing fifth in the finale.
Dwight Howard
The NBA star hoped to stand head and shoulders above the competition with partner Daniella Karagach, but was eliminated from the competition on Nov. 12.
Stephen Nedoroscik
The Olympian had his sights set on another medal—or should we say, Mirrorball Trophy—with partner Rylee Arnold, placing fourth in the Nov. 26 finale.
Phaedra Parks
The Traitors alum was sure to weed out the competition with partner Val Chmerkovskiy, but ended up getting cut from the lineup Oct. 22.
Jenn Tran
Though Bachelorette star and partner Sasha Farber were full bloom in the ballroom, they were eliminated from the competition on Oct. 29.