The new season of Dancing with the Stars has brought more than just dazzling performances and stunning costumes—it’s stirred up controversy. Fans are buzzing, but not about fancy footwork or choreography. Instead, the latest uproar stems from one contestant’s appearance on the show, specifically her decision to dance with a sparkling ankle monitor. This season, a notorious public figure stepped onto the DWTS stage, sparking heated conversations online and leaving many viewers outraged.
The dancer in question is none other than Anna Sorokin, famously known as Anna Delvey. Sorokin became a global sensation after her high-profile trial revealed her as a con artist who swindled Manhattan’s elite by posing as a wealthy German heiress. Her elaborate scams and fraud convictions turned her into a household name, especially following the release of Netflix’s Inventing Anna, a miniseries based on her life.
Delvey’s participation in Dancing with the Stars took viewers by surprise, but it wasn’t just her identity that raised eyebrows. In her first performance, Sorokin danced the Cha Cha alongside professional dancer Ezra Sosa. While the routine itself was entertaining, it was her glittering ankle monitor that stole the spotlight during the show’s September 17, 2024, premiere.
The sparkling ankle bracelet was no ordinary accessory; it was a legal monitoring device—a condition of her house arrest after overstaying her visa following a prison stint for her crimes. The bold decision to accessorize it with a decorative bow only added to the spectacle. Sorokin’s ankle monitor quickly became the talk of the internet, eclipsing any attention on her dance performance.
In a pre-recorded segment, Sorokin even addressed the issue, explaining that she tripped over the ankle monitor while rehearsing. Sosa playfully remarked, “That ankle monitor is kind of inhibiting you today,” which only further highlighted the unusual circumstance surrounding their partnership.
After their Cha Cha performance, the judges shared their thoughts, with Carrie Ann Inaba choosing to address the elephant in the room. She urged the audience to focus on the dancing, not the controversy, stating, “Let’s all just give this a chance. I’m not for or against anything you’ve done, but this is about your dancing here.”
Fellow judge Bruno Tonioli added a touch of humor, commenting that Sorokin was “reinventing Anna once again,” while Derek Hough, usually full of technical analysis, was left nearly speechless. He acknowledged Sorokin’s potential but couldn’t ignore the distraction her accessory had caused.
While the judges maintained a mostly positive outlook, viewers at home were far less forgiving. Social media platforms quickly filled with comments expressing confusion, disbelief, and outright anger over Sorokin’s participation in the competition. Many felt her inclusion was a poor reflection on the show and its values, while others thought it set a bad example for young viewers.
One viewer voiced their disdain, saying, “The whole thing is just disgusting.” Another commented, “They always need one controversial celebrity every season, but this is too much.” Many fans expressed sympathy for Sorokin’s dance partner, Ezra Sosa, with one saying, “Poor Ezra, he deserves better for his first season as a pro!”
The ankle monitor became an instant meme, with users mocking it online. “The zoom in on the bedazzled ankle monitor, LMAO,” one person commented, while others couldn’t believe the spectacle: “Wait…that ankle monitor is real?? WHO IS THIS WOMAN?”
To understand why Sorokin’s appearance on Dancing with the Stars sparked such an intense backlash, it’s essential to revisit her notorious past. Anna Sorokin, originally from Russia, moved to New York City and crafted an elaborate persona, convincing people she was a wealthy German heiress named Anna Delvey. Through charm, confidence, and a string of lies, she infiltrated Manhattan’s high society, living a life of luxury funded by fraud.
Delvey scammed friends, hotels, and financial institutions out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Her high-flying lifestyle included stays at luxury hotels, private jet rides, and lavish shopping sprees, all funded by deception. In 2019, she was convicted of grand larceny and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
What made her story even more shocking was her complete lack of remorse. In an interview following her conviction, Sorokin stated, “The thing is, I’m not sorry. I’d be lying to you and to everyone else if I said I was sorry for anything.” This unapologetic attitude, combined with her crimes, has led to intense public scrutiny and disdain.
Despite her criminal past, Anna Delvey’s story has been transformed into entertainment, most notably through Netflix’s Inventing Anna. The series, starring Julia Garner, brought even more attention to Sorokin’s antics, turning her into an unlikely pop culture figure.
However, not everyone is thrilled about Delvey’s continued fame. A scathing opinion piece from The New York Post criticized her appearance on Dancing with the Stars, labeling it as the lowest point in pop culture. The article condemned the show for giving a convicted scammer a platform, questioning why someone who defrauded so many people was now being celebrated on national television.
In fact, Sorokin’s inclusion on the show has reignited debates about how pop culture glorifies controversial figures. Many feel that her newfound fame only trivializes her criminal actions and sends the wrong message to viewers, particularly younger audiences.
One of the most glaring symbols of this controversy is the ankle monitor itself. Legally, Sorokin is under house arrest and cannot leave the United States, making her participation on DWTS all the more puzzling. A judge granted her permission to compete in Los Angeles, but this decision raised eyebrows, with many questioning why she is allowed such liberties given her criminal record.
The ankle monitor, bedazzled or not, is a constant reminder of her past, and for many, it represents a blatant disregard for accountability. While Sorokin’s defenders might argue that she has served her time and deserves a second chance, critics feel that her flaunting of the monitor on national television is inappropriate and disrespectful.
Whether Sorokin’s appearance on Dancing with the Stars is a genuine attempt at redemption or merely another chapter in her quest for fame, one thing is certain—she continues to be a polarizing figure. For some, her presence on the show is entertaining, a testament to her ability to remain in the public eye despite her fall from grace. For others, it’s a stark reminder of how far pop culture is willing to go for ratings.
As for her future on the show, only time will tell how long she’ll last. While some viewers are calling for her to be eliminated as soon as possible, others are intrigued by the spectacle and curious to see how far she can go. Regardless of the outcome, Sorokin’s debut on Dancing with the Stars has already made an indelible mark on this season, for better or worse.
Anna Delvey’s appearance on Dancing with the Stars has divided viewers, sparking intense debate over her presence in the competition. With her glittering ankle monitor and unapologetic attitude, Delvey remains a figure who captivates public attention—whether through fascination or frustration.
While some might argue that she has the right to rebuild her life post-prison, others see her continued fame as a troubling reflection of society’s obsession with controversy. Whatever the case, one thing is clear: Anna Delvey is not fading from the spotlight anytime soon. As long as the world remains captivated by her story, she will continue to find ways to stay relevant, even if it means dancing her way through scandal.
