Rodriguez is framing this as a positive development for their professional partnership, emphasizing that Carson's pregnancy means he'll be working with a fully focused pro partner who won't be dealing with the physical limitations of late-stage pregnancy during intense competition rehearsals.
Insiders are whispering that Rodriguez's 'relief' at learning Carson was pregnant before their DWTS pairing was announced suggests there may have been initial concerns about chemistry or compatibility between them — and some wonder if producers were worried about pairing a celebrity with someone who might show visibly during the season.
Guillermo Rodriguez is confirmed as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars for an upcoming season. Witney Carson, a longtime professional dancer on DWTS, announced her pregnancy prior to being paired with Rodriguez — meaning she will compete while pregnant. The article was published by E! News on September 2, 2026.
Whether you call it pragmatic partnership planning or something more awkward, Guillermo Rodriguez just handed the internet a quote that's going to live rent-free in gossip circles for weeks — and honestly? That's probably exactly what both he and DWTS production wanted.
Well, this is certainly one way to kick off a competition season. Guillermo Rodriguez has confirmed that he's competing on Dancing With The Stars, and his professional dance partner will be none other than Witney Carson — who, notably, announced her pregnancy before their pairing was officially revealed. But here's where things get interesting: Rodriguez says he was actually relieved when he learned about the pregnancy news.
In comments that are already sparking conversation across social media, Rodriguez explained why Carson's expecting status didn't concern him as much as it might have concerned other contestants. The KABC-TV anchor, who has built a following through his work as a entertainment reporter, appears to be approaching this competition with what he's calling a practical mindset — focusing on the rehearsal schedule and the intensity of the DWTS grind rather than worrying about any complications that might arise from working with a pregnant pro partner.
Let's be real here: Dancing With The Stars is notorious for its brutal practice schedules. Contestants typically spend hours upon hours rehearsing their routines, often in uncomfortable costumes, pushing through physical exhaustion and the constant pressure of live performances. For someone like Carson, who's been on the show for years and knows exactly what that grind entails, competing while pregnant adds an entirely different dimension to the challenge.
From Rodriguez's perspective, though, there seems to be a certain straightforward logic at play. If you're going to be paired with a partner, knowing their situation upfront — rather than discovering mid-competition that they're expecting — allows for better preparation and clearer expectations on both sides. Whether this makes him refreshingly practical or slightly tone-deaf depends entirely on who you ask, and fans have been doing exactly that across every platform since his comments surfaced.
The pregnancy announcement came before DWTS made the official pairing announcements for this season, which means Rodriguez knew what he was getting into when he signed on the dotted line. That transparency might be exactly why he's describing himself as relieved rather than worried — there's no awkward reveal mid-season, no sudden scramble to adjust choreography or expectations. Carson has been open about her pregnancy journey, and now her competition partner is publicly acknowledging that he appreciates having all the information from the start.
Of course, this being Hollywood and reality television, nothing is ever quite that simple. Questions are already circulating about whether production considered the pregnancy a factor in casting decisions, whether Rodriguez's relief suggests concerns about previous potential partners, and what exactly the rehearsal accommodations might look like for a pregnant professional dancer. Carson's established reputation as a choreographer and performer means she brings undeniable value to any partnership — but competing while expecting is uncharted territory even for veterans of the ballroom.
The timing of this announcement, landing just as DWTS promotion kicks into high gear, has all the markings of a strategic rollout designed to generate exactly the kind of buzz we're seeing. Controversial quotes create engagement, engagement creates viewership, and viewership keeps the show relevant in an increasingly crowded entertainment landscape. Whether Rodriguez intended to spark this particular conversation or simply answered a question honestly, the result is the same: he's now at the center of discussions about pregnancy, professional partnerships, and what it means to be a supportive dance partner under unusual circumstances.
As Carson's due date approaches during what promises to be an intense competition season, all eyes will be on how both she and Rodriguez navigate the physical and emotional demands ahead. For now, though, we're left with one of the more memorable pre-season quotes in recent DWTS memory — and plenty of opinions about whether being relieved by your partner's pregnancy is sweet pragmatism or something we should probably discuss further.
