The celebrity cast for Season 33 of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” has been released, and it’s already sparking heated debates. Among the glittering names of actors, athletes and influencers, one stands out in bold: Anna Delvey, a convicted con artist whose elaborate scams once captivated—and defrauded—New York City’s elite.
Who Is Anna Delvey?
Anna Sorokin, better known as Anna Delvey, was born in 1991 to working-class parents in the Soviet Union (Russia). She moved to the United States in 2013 and that is where her story really began. In New York, Sorokin crafted an elaborate false identity as a wealthy German heiress, gaining access to Manhattan’s high society.
With her charm and clever manipulation, she swindled banks, hotels and countless people, creating fake documents and forging wire transfers—all in the name of living the lavish life. And it worked. Anna Delvey became an “It Girl.”
However, the con artist’s web of lies unraveled in 2017 when she was arrested in a dramatic NYPD sting operation. In 2019, Sorokin was convicted of multiple counts of theft and grand larceny, resulting in a sentence of four to 12 years in prison. Her story of deceit and downfall was captivating, causing numerous articles to be written. Netflix’s popular TV series, “Inventing Anna” also gave Delvey’s story traction. She became known.
The Controversy
Anna Delvey’s inclusion in “Dancing With The Stars” has stirred controversy, not just because she’s a convicted felon currently under house arrest. To appear on the show, Delvey had to obtain special permission from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a rare and contentious exception. At her first red carpet appearance, Delvey flaunted her ankle monitor as if it were a piece of fine jewelry worth putting on display. Her attitude was unmistakably defiant: her outfit on point, shielded by iconic oversized sunglasses, she radiated the air of a woman unbothered by her past.
Delvey’s presence on the show has raised ethical questions about fame, redemption and the American fascination with scandal. Some see her as a symbol of resilience, someone who’s cleverly maneuvered through the loopholes of her legal restrictions to dance under the spotlight once again. Others, however, view her participation as a troubling example of how fame can manifest from wrongdoing.
Throughout her performances, Delvey will keep her ankle monitor on—a representation of her ongoing legal battles and, to some, a glaring reminder of her crimes. She and her professional dance partner have even joked about bedazzling the device, turning a symbol of confinement into yet another attention-grabbing accessory.
Whether viewed as a second chance or an uncomfortable spectacle, Anna Delvey is determined to make waves on “Dancing With The Stars,” ready to captivate America once more.
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