Whoopi Goldberg, a prominent co-host on “The View,” has publicly criticized ABC for featuring convicted felon and con artist Anna “Delvey” Sorokin on their popular show, “Dancing With The Stars.”
Sorokin, who gained notoriety for deceiving New York’s elite and financial institutions by posing as a wealthy socialite, has been given a spot on the show despite her ongoing legal issues, including wearing an ankle bracelet for house arrest.
Goldberg’s discontent with ABC’s decision was evident during a recent broadcast of “The View.”
She expressed her frustration by drawing a stark comparison between Sorokin’s current situation and the plight of individuals who have faced challenges with ICE.
“I think back to the families who have 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. Now, should I think there’s a reason? Is there a two-tiered system here with ICE?” Goldberg questioned.
Sorokin, originally from the former Soviet Union, was convicted in 2019 for various crimes including theft of services and grand larceny.
Her story, which involved her masquerading as a wealthy socialite with a purported fortune of 60 million euros, became the basis for Netflix’s hit series, “Inventing Anna.”
After serving 17 months in prison, Sorokin was released in October 2022 and has since been on house arrest.
Goldberg’s critique was further fueled by her co-host Joy Behar’s comment suggesting that Sorokin’s appearance might be a factor in her casting.
“I don’t understand why she gets to stay,” Goldberg said, expressing disbelief over the situation.
“I’m listening to people bitch about what’s going on at the border, and I’m listening to people bitch about all these people who shouldn’t be here, well what the hell, man? How does this work?”
The outrage from Goldberg and her fellow co-hosts was not limited to her alone.
Sunny Hostin, another co-host, expressed her disapproval by highlighting the perceived leniency towards Sorokin.
“When you think about it, she defrauded so many people and then spent two years in prison, and then had to spend another 18 months in prison for overstaying her welcome and overstaying her visa so she committed another crime and what is the, I don’t know, consequence of it? A bejeweled ankle monitor, a federal bejeweled ankle monitor and a spot on a television show,” Hostin remarked.
Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin also voiced concerns about Sorokin’s participation in the show. Griffin cautioned other contestants to be wary, suggesting that Sorokin’s history of deceit might not be left behind.
“She still owes people money and con artists tend to remain con artists,” Griffin warned.
The discussion around Sorokin’s participation on “Dancing With The Stars” has sparked broader conversations about fairness and the consequences of criminal behavior.
The criticism from Goldberg and her co-hosts reflects a growing sentiment that the justice system and media may sometimes offer undue leniency to individuals based on factors other than their actions.
Fox News Digital reached out to ABC News for a comment on the situation but did not receive an immediate response.
This ongoing debate underscores the complexities surrounding media representation of individuals with controversial backgrounds and raises questions about the principles guiding such decisions.
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