# Former ‘DWTS’ Contestant Danielle Fishel Says Judges Tougher On Female Contestants: “Men Get A Pass”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/former-dwts-contestant-danielle-fishel-says-judges-tougher-on-female-contestants-men-get-a-pass/
- Published: 2026-11-07T17:24:57+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T18:36:28+00:00
- Original publisher: Deadline
- Original article: https://deadline.com/2026/11/dancing-with-the-stars-danielle-fishel-judges-women-1237216270/
- Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, Film, Horror

## Key points

- Danielle Fishel says female contestants face tougher judging on *Dancing With the Stars*.
- Shirley Ballas scored Stiles and Ali 4, and Cameron 5.
- Fishel says audiences may also respond differently to male and female judges.

## Summary

Former *Dancing With the Stars* contestant Danielle Fishel says the show’s judges can be tougher on female celebrities than male contestants. Speaking on her *Ballroom Breakdown* podcast, she argued that this perceived double standard affects how performances are scored and may also shape how audiences respond to criticism.

Fishel was discussing Horror Movie Night with guest Kym Johnson after guest judge Shirley Ballas gave Julia Stiles and Tatyana Ali scores of 4, while Tyler Cameron received a 5. Fishel said Cameron’s dance should also have received a 4, and Johnson said she was surprised his performance had been scored higher. Fishel added that female judges and guest judges may face more booing than male judges when they offer constructive criticism.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.