Anna Delvey, a figure once known for her elaborate scams, has seen her time on Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) come to a sudden end. Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, rose to infamy after posing as a fake German heiress and tricking various individuals and businesses out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Her controversial life was the subject of a 2018 article by Jessica Pressler for New York magazine. The article eventually inspired the popular Netflix miniseries Inventing Anna, where actress Julia Garner played the role of Delvey, and Shonda Rhimes served as the showrunner.
From Infamy to Reality TV
On the second episode of this season’s DWTS, Delvey faced elimination after failing to earn high enough judges’ scores or garner sufficient viewer votes. Along with Delvey, actress Tori Spelling and her professional dance partner, Pasha Pashkov, were also eliminated in what was a double-elimination night.
Delvey’s final performance, a quickstep routine set to KT Tunstall’s upbeat hit “Suddenly I See”, saw her dancing alongside her pro partner, Ezra Sosa. The performance took place during the show’s special Oscars-themed episode. In a humorous touch, Sosa poked fun at Delvey’s famously cool and detached demeanor, a trait that she became known for both during her criminal exploits and her subsequent media appearances.
When asked by co-host Julianne Hough what she would take away from her experience on the show, Delvey gave a short and somewhat characteristic response. Smiling, she simply said, “Nothing,” eliciting laughter and surprise from both the audience and the show’s hosts.
Life After Prison: How Delvey Ended Up on DWTS
Delvey’s appearance on Dancing With the Stars came as a surprise to many, particularly because of her legal history. After being convicted on charges of grand larceny and theft of services, she spent nearly four years behind bars. Her release in 2021 marked a new chapter in her life, but she remained under house arrest while fighting a pending deportation case with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Despite her legal troubles, Delvey’s story has captured the public’s fascination, leading to various media portrayals and interviews where she discussed her life, regrets, and future plans.
Her participation in DWTS required special permission from ICE, which she ultimately secured. However, as Delvey explained to The Hollywood Reporter following her elimination, she wasn’t initially enthusiastic about the idea of joining the reality TV competition.
“I kind of got talked into doing this,” Delvey admitted. “I got the permission from ICE, and then it was kind of too late to back out.”
Despite being under house arrest and having to wear an ankle monitor, Delvey managed to participate in the competition. She described the ankle monitor as “pretty light,” indicating that she didn’t expect it to hinder her dancing too much.
When asked about her goals for the show, Delvey had kept her expectations low: “I just wanted to have some fun and maybe get in a little workout,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. For her, DWTS was an opportunity to shake off the monotony of house arrest and try something new.
Controversy Surrounding Delvey’s Participation
However, Delvey’s involvement in Dancing With the Stars was not without controversy. Many were quick to question why a convicted fraudster was given such a high-profile platform, especially considering her history of deception. The backlash started almost immediately after it was announced that she would be part of the show’s cast for the season.
One of the most vocal critiques came from the co-hosts of The View, a daytime talk show that also airs on ABC, the same network as DWTS. Whoopi Goldberg, a long-time moderator of The View, openly expressed her frustration, particularly focusing on the special permission Delvey received from ICE to appear on the show. Goldberg questioned why Delvey, a convicted criminal, would be granted a level of leniency that many immigrants and their families have struggled to receive from the same agency.
“I think back to all the families who’ve had family members arrested by ICE, who have gone to the courts to get their dad, or their brother, or their mother back, and this woman, they gave her permission to go do this,” Goldberg stated during a discussion on The View. “Now, should I think there’s a reason? Is there a two-tiered system here with ICE?”
Goldberg’s comments struck a nerve, as she highlighted the disparity between Delvey’s treatment by ICE and the experiences of others caught up in the immigration system. She implied that Delvey’s fame and notoriety may have played a role in her receiving special privileges, a sentiment shared by many viewers of both The View and DWTS.
Co-host Sunny Hostin echoed these concerns, stating that Delvey needed to be held accountable for her actions and that her presence on DWTS could send the wrong message to the public. Hostin also referenced the victims of Delvey’s scams, suggesting that they may still be dealing with the consequences of her fraudulent activities.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, another co-host, pointed out that Delvey “still owes people money,” alluding to the financial restitution she had been ordered to pay as part of her sentencing. For Griffin, Delvey’s participation on DWTS seemed particularly unfair, considering that she was able to gain something positive from her criminal past while her victims were still dealing with the fallout.
Delvey Fires Back at Critics
Never one to remain silent, Delvey quickly responded to the criticism she received from The View. Taking to social media, she called out the co-hosts for not doing their research and spreading what she called “misinformation.”
“While you are entitled to your own opinions, you should at least get your facts straight,” Delvey posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). “I served my time and paid everyone back in full 3+ years ago. Looking forward to your on-air correction.”
Delvey’s pointed response seemed aimed specifically at Griffin’s remark about her still owing people money. Delvey claimed that she had, in fact, paid back all her victims in full over three years ago, well before her time on DWTS.
Delvey’s Lawyer Issues a Statement
Following Delvey’s public comments, her lawyer stepped in to further clarify the situation. According to a statement from Delvey’s legal team, which was read aloud on The View by co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, Delvey had fully repaid all the restitution she owed to her victims. The statement included documentation from the Office of Victim Services, which confirmed that all of Delvey’s victims had been compensated.
“We recently discussed Anna Delvey, the convicted fraudster, noting she will be on Dancing With the Stars and questioning the fairness of her being on the show as it is an opportunity that most other convicted criminals and immigrants seeking asylum simply do not have,” Griffin said as she addressed the lawyer’s statement on air. “After that discussion, we heard from Ms. Delvey’s lawyer, who strongly objected to our saying that, quote, ‘She still owes people money.’ He argued that statement falsely suggests she still owes restitution to her fraud victims. And he provided a document from the Office of Victim Services that he says proves, quote, ‘All of Miss Delvey’s restitution has been repaid in full, and all the victims have been fully compensated.’”
A Complex Public Image
Delvey’s time on Dancing With the Stars may have been short-lived, but it certainly reignited public debate over her role in the spotlight. To some, she is a figure who has paid her debt to society and is entitled to move forward with her life. To others, she remains a symbol of privilege and deceit, benefiting from the notoriety her crimes have brought her.
Though she may no longer be competing on the dance floor, Anna Delvey’s complex legacy continues to stir conversation—and it’s likely this won’t be the last we hear from her.
The Information is Collected from MSN and Yahoo.
