AceShowbiz - Antonio Sabato Jr., a contestant from Season 19 of "Dancing With the Stars" (DWTS), has prompted mixed reactions with recent claims about the integrity of the popular dance competition. In a candid discussion on Cheryl Burke's podcast "Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans," Sabàto alleged that the show is "partly rigged." This assertion has brought forth a variety of opinions and has stirred up controversy among DWTS enthusiasts.

"To be honest, I think that the show is partly rigged in a sense. Yeah, it is rigged," stated Sabàto, 52, as he reflected on his own experience on the show. Sabàto argued that contestants with prior dance experience have an undeniable edge over those who are novices.

"First of all, if you're not a dancer or you don't have dancing skills from a young age, you're not going to win," he said. He further emphasized his point by noting that "the majority of past winners are dancers, you know, that have some sort of [experience]."

His remarks have prompted debate about the fairness of the competition. Cheryl Burke, who partnered with Sabàto during Season 19, gently contested his claims by pointing out that her Season 3 partner, former NFL star Emmitt Smith, won the competition despite having no formal dance experience. "Yeah, but he had moves," Sabàto retorted. "He had soul. He was dancing at church, you know what I mean? He had that thing going."

Sabàto offered additional evidence, mentioning Alfonso Ribeiro, who co-hosts "DWTS" and won Season 19. "He was tap-dancing with Michael Jackson," Sabàto complained, implying that Ribeiro's dance background unfairly influenced his success on the show.

Apart from suggesting that dance experience predetermines winners, Sabàto also criticized the show's judges, claiming they favor contestants who can maintain captivating personal narratives. "The judges, they know who they want, so you've got to keep that persona," he said. This prioritization of storytelling over pure dance skill, according to Sabàto, skews the competition even further.

Reflecting on his own journey, Sabàto admitted that his concurrent hosting duties on the remodeling show "Fix It & Finish It" hampered his DWTS performance.

"If I didn't have another job and we were just, like, in Hollywood and me driving five minutes, and we had all the time in the world… I think I would've probably lasted at least another week or two," he lamented. Despite their challenges, Sabàto and Burke finished in a respectable eighth place during their season.

These explosive claims have undoubtedly rekindled discussions about the fairness of "Dancing With the Stars," challenging long-held perceptions of the show. Whether fans believe the show is rigged or not, one thing is certain: the conversation ignited by Sabàto's comments will persist.

"Dancing With the Stars" airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, and streams the next day on Hulu.