Users Are Outraged That a Famous Criminal Was Cast in the New Season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ — First Pics Revealed

ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” has just revealed who’ll be competing on season 33. The shocker is that Anna Delvey was included as one of the “stars.” You might remember her as the infamous “fake heiress,” who was convicted a few years ago of several criminal charges.

The announcement, made exclusively on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday, has sparked a firestorm of controversy. Fans aren’t pleased that a known thief is dancing next to celebrities and athletes.

The full lineup for the upcoming season of “Dancing with the Stars” was unveiled, featuring a mix of familiar faces from various fields. You’ll see Phaedra Parks from “Real Housewives” and Tori Spelling from “Beverly Hills, 90210,” among several others.

However, it was the inclusion of Delvey that sent shockwaves through the show’s audience. The faux socialite, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, gained notoriety for her elaborate scams that inspired the Emmy-nominated Netflix show “Inventing Anna.” In 2019, she was convicted on eight counts, such as grand larceny and theft of services.

Her sentence included 12 years in prison, a $24,000 fine, and nearly $200,000 in restitution. Her early release in February 2021 was due to good behavior. When asked what she wanted viewers to know about her, Delvey told “GMA,” “How good I am at cha-cha.” This flippant response has done little to quell the outrage from fans.

Delvey’s pro partner, Ezra Sosa, shared pictures with her on Instagram after the cast announcement. In the caption, he wrote, “Excited to announce my very first partner for DWTS is none other than the iconic @theannadelvey! 💁🏻‍♀️”

He added that he was looking forward to dancing with someone who keeps things interesting, both on and off the dance floor. He also said that they would work hard, but “without the wire transfers this time.” It’s a particularly exciting moment because Sosa has just been promoted from troupe member to pro on the show.

However, his followers weren’t happy with the decision. One user wrote, “Why are you glorifying this woman [sic]?” Another warned Sosa, “Hide your wallet!!!“

A particularly scathing comment read, “Honestly… she literally stole money from people to fund a luxury lifestyle, made them go bankrupt, destroyed multiple lives, people are still paying off debt that she created, has not apologized nor somehow acknowledged that what she did was wrong and that’s being called iconic? I’m sorry, what [sic]?“

On the other hand, some fans expressed excitement about Delvey’s participation. One commented, “I’ve never seen DWTS. But Anna’s going to be on it? Guess there’s a first for everything 💕 [sic].” Another said, “I have never wanted to watch this show until now.“

Sosa is good friends with Jojo Siwa, whom he met during Season 30 of the show. Her mom decided to show her support and wrote, “I am so freaking happy for you. 🔥🔥🔥🔥 and your partner ahhhhh ICONIC ❤️ cannot wait to watch you dance [sic]!” Even comic book artist Adam Ellis added, “She’s not a star…..she’s an icon.“

While the public had mixed reactions to Delvey’s inclusion, the faux socialite never wavered in one aspect: she never apologized for her actions. In an interview with The New York Times, she stated, “The thing is, I’m not sorry. […] I regret the way I went about certain things.”

Delvey claimed her actions were driven by a desire to start a $40 million private club, not by greed. “My motive was never money,” she added. “I was power hungry.” Still, she acknowledged falsifying bank records but insisted she always intended to repay her debts.

After her release from prison in February 2021, Delvey faced potential deportation. She is actively engaged in legal proceedings to stay in the United States and challenge the court’s decision regarding her conviction. An immigration judge placed her under house arrest in New York and forbade her from using social media.

However, in August, her lawyer, John Sandweg, managed to pull back on the restrictions. The condition is that Delvey will have to wear her ankle monitor at all times, and she’ll need permission from ICE for certain matters.

Despite Delvey’s past, her “Dancing with the Stars” partner seems excited about their pairing. In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Sosa revealed an unexpected connection: she had watched the show during her time “in jail.” The dancer also discussed how he told his previous partner, Siwa.

“I mean, I didn’t tell [JoJo that I’d be a pro this year]. And when I did tell her, she didn’t believe me, like, such a good friend, wow,” he said jokingly. He went on to describe how Siwa offered him rhinestones from her mom’s company to decorate Delvey’s ankle monitor.

As part of her lighter restrictions, Delvey has been granted permission to relocate to Los Angeles for filming, but her ankle monitor must remain. When asked about dancing with the device, she said, “I mean, it’s fine. It’s just the same as, like, dancing without it, I think. It’s pretty light. It’s not that bad.”

Sosa playfully commented that if they were assigned the jive, Delvey’s left leg would likely become stronger. She jokingly replied that she preferred to wear it on her right cuff because it was smaller than her left.

Beyond the playful banter, however, lay the undeniable reality: Delvey is set as part of the cast. You can watch the new season of “Dancing with the Stars” when it premieres on September 17 on ABC and Disney+.