Flavor Flav Explains Accidental 9 for Alix Earle on DWTS
“Dancing With The Stars” guest judge Flavor Flav recently admitted that he accidentally scored Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy a 9 instead of a 10 during the show’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night. The rapper confessed that the mistake robbed the duo of what could have been the season’s first perfect score.
The 34th season of Dancing With The Stars aired its Week 8 episode on November 4, 2025, featuring performances inspired by classic rock hits. After the results, Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov were eliminated, leaving the competition even tighter among the remaining couples.
Alix Earle and her partner Val impressed the judges with a powerful Paso Doble to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” earning three perfect 10s from Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli. However, Flavor Flav’s 9 left them just shy of a flawless 40.
The performance quickly went viral—not only for its energy but also for Alix’s stepmom, Ashley Dupré, reacting to the score. In a TikTok clip, she was seen cheering for Alix while humorously captioning her video, “See, I can behave. So proud of our girl! Go Al & Val!”
Interestingly, this wasn’t Ashley’s first time making DWTS headlines. Just a week earlier, she drew attention for her comments about guest judge Cheryl Burke, who also gave Alix a 9 during the Halloween-themed episode. Ashley had made a remark about Burke’s appearance, which stirred controversy online and prompted Burke to respond.
Related: Danielle Fishel’s ‘DWTS’ Salary Revealed: Earned $125K For Season 34
Speaking later with PEOPLE, Flavor Flav admitted the mishap, explaining, “I gave them a nine, which was an accident. I really wanted to give them a 10, but they wouldn’t let me change it once it was locked in.” He added, “That’s how the game goes—you know what I’m saying.”
Despite the mix-up, Alix and Val remain fan favorites, and Flavor Flav’s confession only added a lighthearted twist to one of DWTS Season 34’s most memorable nights.
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