Dancing with the Stars has been a popular TV show in the U.S. for almost 20 years, known for its glitz and glamour. But this season, things are taking an unexpected turn as Anna Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, joins the show. She’s not just known for her style—she’s a convicted scam artist—and she’ll be dancing while wearing an ankle monitor due to her ongoing legal troubles.
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In a press release, ABC, owned by Disney, described Sorokin as an “artist, fashion icon, and NYC socialite” and called her a “fashionista with an ankle bracelet.” She’ll be joining a mix of athletes, reality stars, and Olympians in this new season. However, many people are unhappy with her casting, accusing the network of glamorizing her criminal past. The New York Post called it a “new low for pop culture.”
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There’s also confusion about how Sorokin, who’s a German-Russian citizen, can stay in the U.S. after her fraud convictions. The ankle monitor she’s wearing now is not for her 2019 crimes, where she pretended to be a rich heiress and scammed banks, lawyers, and even a private jet company for over $200,000. This monitor is because of her immigration case, where she’s fighting to avoid being deported.
The news has sparked debates online. Some people admire her ambition, seeing her as someone chasing the American Dream, even if it’s twisted. Others criticize her for continuing to seek fame without showing any real remorse for her actions. On The View, Whoopi Goldberg said Sorokin’s ability to join Dancing with the Stars despite her immigration issues shows how wealthy or well-connected people often get special treatment. Some have also pointed out that in a country where a former felon is running for president, nothing should be surprising.
Sorokin first became famous when New York Magazine wrote about her scams in 2018. Her story became even more well-known with the Netflix series Inventing Anna and the BBC podcast Fake Heiress. She managed to convince many rich people in New York City that she was a wealthy European heiress, with plans to build an arts foundation. All the while, she was writing bad checks, skipping out on hotel bills, and letting others pay for her expensive lifestyle.
Anna Delvey’s Rise and Fall
Sorokin’s schemes came to an end in 2017 when she was arrested in California. In 2019, she was found guilty of eight crimes related to theft and sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison. After serving almost four years, she was released in February 2021, but she didn’t leave the U.S. as expected. Six weeks later, she was arrested again for overstaying her visa. Since then, she’s been fighting deportation and has spent time both in jail and under house arrest.
In 2022, Sorokin was nearly deported to Germany, but her lawyer stopped the process at the last minute. It’s unclear what her exact claims for asylum are, but they likely relate to her Russian citizenship. While under house arrest, she continued to stay in the public eye, launching her podcast and giving interviews. Vogue even filmed a tour of her apartment in New York City.
John Sandweg, a former U.S. immigration official and Sorokin’s current lawyer, said her case has taken a long time, partly due to the appeals process. He also said her house arrest conditions were very strict, but after challenging them in court, they were loosened. Sorokin is now allowed to travel for Dancing with the Stars and use social media again.
Despite her legal troubles, Sorokin has managed to keep paying for lawyers and rent, thanks to money from media deals and the sale of her artwork. Netflix paid her $320,000 for the rights to her life story, and she used some of that money to pay back her victims.
Netflix Faces Its Lawsuit
Meanwhile, Netflix is facing a defamation lawsuit from Rachel Williams, a former friend of Sorokin’s who was portrayed in Inventing Anna. Williams claims that Netflix made her look like a “vile person” and is suing for damages. Sorokin isn’t directly involved in the case, but she may be called as a witness.
Williams wrote a book called My Friend Anna, where she talked about how their friendship ended after Sorokin tricked her into paying for a $62,000 vacation in Morocco. Though Sorokin was found not guilty of the charges related to that trip, Williams said the experience caused her a lot of stress.
While some see Sorokin as a symbol of rebellion against the wealthy, Williams doesn’t buy it. She believes Sorokin wasn’t trying to tear down the rich world; she just wanted to be part of it.
Amid all the controversy, Dancing with the Stars executive producer Conrad Green defended the decision to have Sorokin on the show, pointing out that other contestants with criminal pasts have been featured before. “She served her time,” Green said. “I think it’s fair for her to be on the show.”