Dancing With the Stars has sparked significant controversy with the participation of convicted fraudster Anna Delvey, also known as Anna Sorokin, who claimed to have received permission from ICE to compete in the reality show despite her legal troubles. Ahead of the season 33 premiere on September 17, Delvey expressed confidence in her performance, joking to Entertainment Tonight, “What’s the worst that can happen? They’re not gonna arrest me for dancing badly,” and expressed hope that “the government” would support her.
In response to the criticism surrounding Delvey’s participation, DWTS showrunner Conrad Green defended her inclusion in the competition, stating to Variety, “We’ve had other people on the show who’ve had criminal issues in the past. She served her time. I think it’s perfectly valid for her to be on the show, and I think people have been really curious to see how she performs.”
In her debut performance, Delvey danced a cha-cha with pro dancer Ezra Sosa to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” sporting a sparkly ankle monitor. During her introduction, she acknowledged her past but aimed to showcase a different aspect of her life on the show, declaring, “My past history shows I’m pretty determined and it’s a good quality to channel into something positive.” She added, “I’ve reinvented myself many times, and this time I’m going to be a ballroom dancer.”
After her performance, judge Carrie Ann Inaba noted the positive shift in the atmosphere when Delvey took the stage and encouraged the audience to focus on her dancing. Delvey and Sosa received a score of 18 out of 30, which was neither the highest nor the lowest. When asked about her score, Delvey remarked, “I feel happy that I don’t have to do this dance again.” While she did not specify whether she would like to perform again, she is required to continue in the competition, as there were no eliminations on the opening night, although a double elimination is scheduled for next week.