Andrea Innocenti In the midst of the television summer, Dancing with the Stars returned to the spotlight not for its choreography, but for a heated confrontation between two very different personalities. The program, hosted by Milly Carlucci , featured a waltz in the third episode that, according to judge Guillermo Mariotto , was so monotonous it almost put him to sleep.
The comment, followed by a fake yawn, immediately lit the fuse of a debate that would involve the entire jury and the contestants.
Mariotto's words on the Pernice and Bocchi waltz
After Giovanni Pernice and Noemi Bocchi 's performance , Mariotto said he was so tired he almost collapsed from his seat, adding that the choreography reminded him of “doing the splits in the air.”
In an attempt at irony, he also quoted Francesco Totti , stating: "If what I said last time helped us see this, I'm happy." The judge then offered a backhanded compliment, noting that Bocchi had "done a beautiful dance," but still gave a negative review of the entire performance.
The reference to Francesco Totti and the other judges
The reference to Totti wasn't well received by the dancer. Pernice, who has a long career in the dance world, responded that Mariotto's comment was inappropriate and irrelevant to the Charleston he had just performed. He emphasized: "We're talking about a Charleston; what he said has nothing to do with it." The intervention also implicated Pasquale La Rocca and Bianca Guaccero , both cited by Mariotto to highlight an alleged lack of professionalism.
Escalation in the fourth episode: Pernice takes flight
Tensions escalated as Pernice raised the possibility of receiving a zero score, stating, "Give us a zero, we don't care about your grade." The judge, visibly irritated, responded harshly, "Shut up, you'll look better if you don't." The discussion escalated into a full-blown verbal battle, with Pernice insisting the judge knew nothing about dance , while Mariotto retorted by threatening to revoke the top grade.
The final vote and Alberto Matano's speech
At the end of the performance, all the judges awarded maximum points to Pernice and Bocchi, except Mariotto, who scored 9 out of 10, bringing the total to 49 points out of 50. Meanwhile, host Alberto Matano intervened to defend his role as judge, noting that Mariotto has been at the table for twenty-one years. Matano emphasized the importance of respecting those who have contributed to the longevity of the format, calling the comment "you don't understand anything" offensive.
Other protagonists and reactions in the studio
Amid the flurry of accusations, Francesca Fialdini made a curious remark about Noemi Bocchi, calling her "mute" and demanding to speak about the performance. Bocchi herself, while not responding, was nonetheless praised by Mariotto for her "dance." Meanwhile, Pasquale La Rocca and Bianca Guaccero found themselves mixed up in Mariotto's remarks, but were unable to directly defend themselves. The entire episode transformed the stage into a sort of verbal arena, where the dance was almost overshadowed by the conflict.
The latest episodes of Dancing with the Stars have shown how even an entertainment format can become the setting for heated discussions, where the judges' and contestants' words have taken on the same weight as the choreography. The debate over respect, professionalism, and the ability to judge art has left viewers with the sense that, behind the spotlight, there are also strong personalities ready to defend their points of view.