The Legal Battles Behind Anna Delvey’s Dancing With The Stars Debut
Dancing with the Stars is known for its glitzy ballroom performances and celebrity competitors, but Season 33 is making headlines for a very different reason. This season features a particularly controversial contestant: Anna Delvey, the convicted fraudster whose real name is Anna Sorokin. Delvey’s participation in the reality TV show has sparked debates across media outlets, with critics accusing the show of glamorizing crime.
Anna Delvey, whose life inspired the Netflix series Inventing Anna, will be dancing with an ankle monitor as part of her ongoing legal battles. While she has served time for her crimes, Delvey is now fighting deportation from the United States. But how did she go from convicted con artist to Dancing with the Stars contestant? Here’s the story behind her headline-grabbing appearance.
Delvey’s Past Crimes and Legal Struggles
Delvey first gained notoriety in 2018 when she was exposed for posing as a wealthy European heiress and scamming banks, businesses, and high-society friends in New York City. Her audacious scams, which included forging bank documents and evading luxury hotel bills, were valued at over $200,000. In 2019, she was found guilty of multiple theft-related charges and sentenced to between four and 12 years in prison.
After serving nearly four years, Delvey was released from prison in 2021, only to be re-arrested six weeks later by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying her visa. She has since been under house arrest, wearing an electronic ankle monitor, as she continues to fight deportation to Germany.
Despite these ongoing legal issues, Delvey has been allowed to participate in Dancing with the Stars thanks to special permission granted by ICE. This decision has fueled widespread public discourse about whether her participation sends the wrong message, with many questioning how a convicted felon fighting deportation is allowed to compete on national television.
Public Backlash and Controversy
Delvey’s appearance on Dancing with the Stars has been met with sharp criticism. Many see her participation as glamorizing her criminal past. The New York Post called it a “new low for pop culture,” and critics have pointed out the troubling precedent set by allowing someone with an active criminal history to appear on such a platform.
Even prominent figures like Whoopi Goldberg weighed in on the issue. On The View, Goldberg questioned the fairness of Delvey’s participation, suggesting it is an example of a “two-tier immigration system” that favors the rich and well-connected. Goldberg’s co-host, Alyssa Farah Griffin, echoed these concerns, pointing out that Delvey still owes money to some of her victims and expressed concern about how the show’s platform might downplay the harm she caused.
Why Delvey is Still Fighting Deportation
Delvey’s legal woes aren’t just about her fraud conviction. After her initial release from prison in 2021, she was arrested again for visa violations. Though she has Russian citizenship, she grew up in Germany and moved to the United States on a tourist visa in her 20s. After overstaying her visa, she has been embroiled in a lengthy deportation battle.
Her lawyer, John Sandweg, who once served as the acting head of ICE during Barack Obama’s presidency, confirmed that deportation cases like Delvey’s can take years to resolve. He has argued that Delvey is not a flight risk or danger to society, citing her compliance with parole conditions as justification for loosening some of her restrictions—such as allowing her to appear on TV.
Delvey’s time under house arrest has been anything but quiet. She’s launched her own podcast, conducted multiple interviews, and even sold her prison artwork. Some media outlets, like Vogue and Vogue UK, have even glamorized her time under house arrest, highlighting her return to social media and her status as a so-called “fashion icon.”
Dancing with the Stars’ Response to the Backlash
The producers of Dancing with the Stars have defended Delvey’s inclusion on the show. Conrad Green, the show’s executive producer, pointed out that the program has featured other celebrities with criminal backgrounds. “She served her time,” Green said in an interview with Variety, adding that Delvey has a right to seek redemption and change the narrative around her life.
Delvey herself sees Dancing with the Stars as an opportunity for a fresh start. In a pre-show interview, she told cameras, “I did serve my time, and Dancing with the Stars is a way for me to show people a different side of me.” Her goal, she claims, is to rehabilitate her public image by showing the world that she is capable of change.
The Public’s Divided Opinion on Delvey’s Second Chance
Public opinion on Delvey remains sharply divided. Some admire her resilience and ambition, comparing her to a twisted version of the American Dream. Others, however, are quick to point out her lack of remorse for the people she hurt.
Jessica Pressler, the journalist whose article inspired the Inventing Anna series, noted that people often fail to remember the details of Delvey’s crimes, focusing instead on the spectacle. “People don’t look that far past the surface,” Pressler said. Her ability to charm and deceive is what allowed Delvey to infiltrate elite circles in New York in the first place—and now, it appears, it’s part of what makes her a fascinating figure for reality TV audiences.
Conclusion: An Uncertain Path Ahead
As Delvey competes on Dancing with the Stars, the debate surrounding her continues. Critics argue that allowing her to participate minimizes the impact of her crimes, while others see it as part of her ongoing reinvention. Whether her journey on the show will help her win public favor or deepen the controversy remains to be seen.
While Delvey is undoubtedly a polarizing figure, one thing is clear: her presence on Dancing with the Stars is sparking important conversations about celebrity, crime, and the nature of second chances.
FAQs
1. Why is Anna Delvey competing on Dancing with the Stars controversial?
Anna Delvey’s participation has drawn criticism due to her criminal background and ongoing legal battles. Many argue that her appearance glamorizes her past crimes.
2. What crimes was Anna Delvey convicted of?
Anna Delvey was convicted of multiple theft-related charges for defrauding banks, hotels, and businesses out of more than $200,000.
3. Why is Anna Delvey wearing an ankle monitor?
Delvey is fighting deportation from the U.S. after overstaying her visa. The ankle monitor is part of her parole conditions as she awaits the outcome of her legal battles.
4. How did Dancing with the Stars producers respond to the backlash?
The show’s producers defended Delvey’s participation, stating that she has served her time and deserves a chance to show a different side of herself.
5. How did public figures react to Anna Delvey’s participation?
Figures like Whoopi Goldberg criticized Delvey’s participation, calling it an example of a biased system that favors the wealthy or well-connected.
