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Does she deserve a chance?

Does she deserve a chance?
Posted on | Posted on angela

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Anna Delvey is trying to reinvent herself.

But Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin and who served as the inspiration for the hit Netflix miniseries “Inventing Anna,” quickly learns that publicly exposing bad decisions comes at a high price.

Delvey's appearance on season 33 of “Dancing with the Stars” comes after she was accused of funding a lavish lifestyle and her personal business plans by stealing $275,000 from hotels, banks and spendthrift New Yorkers. She was convicted of grand larceny in 2019 and served just over three years of her four- to 12-year prison sentence.

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“DWTS’s move to bring Delvey into ballroom dancing has made headlines from the start: Delvey having to get permission from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to compete after the agency arrested her in 2021 for overstaying her visa; a now-infamous ankle bracelet that Delvey adorned during the show; and her “lackluster” dance debut.

The casting controversy surrounding the former “fake German heiress” feels both familiar and fresh. And while parts of the internet are upset, her personal reinvention could help revive interest in “DWTS” — and give her a second chance.

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Anna Delvey's 'DWTS' casting sparks heated reactions in and outside the ballroom

Delvey headlines a cast full of familiar names, including “Beverly Hills: 90210” star Tori Spelling, NBA legend Dwight Howard, Oscar nominee Eric Roberts, former Bachelor franchise leads Jenn Tran and Joey Graziadei, and Olympic “pommel horse guy” Stephen Nedoroscik.

The excitement for Delvey continued on the dance floor during the season premiere. She and Season 1 pro Ezra Sosa, the last couple to compete, danced a cha-cha to Sabrina Carpenter's upbeat summer song “Espresso.”

Judge Derek Hough said he was “at a loss for words” and “surprised” by Delvey's potential. The always energetic judge Bruno Tonioli praised her, saying she had “reinvented Anna again and it could work.” However, Carrie Ann Inaba noted the elephant in the room – a “shift in energy” during the duo's dance – and asked fans to “give it a chance.”

“I can imagine that this is scary for you, and I'm not for or against anything you've done. But this is about your dancing,” she told Delvey.

“I was very nervous before my first dance, but I think I did well considering the circumstances. The room fell silent. It was clear that I was not a fan favorite – not yet. But I will keep working on it. And I hope that I can win people over with my work ethic and perseverance. I am not giving up,” Delvey said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY.

She continued: “When I finished my first dance, I saw an 'avalanche of hate' on social media. It was devastating and I ran off the stage crying.”

In an Instagram post, Sosa echoed Delvey's statement, saying she was “found in the bathroom and she was crying.” He said “no one deserves the hate she is currently experiencing” and she “deserves a second chance.”

This “avalanche” of public debate was clearly felt before and after Delvey’s first dance.

Former “DWTS” pro Cheryl Burke said on her podcast that Sosa working with “someone who's a little complicated” was “a lot” for the pro, who is new to the show. The New York Times said Delvey “maybe needs to show a little more emotion” after her stoic dance.

“The View” apologized on-air after its co-hosts misrepresented the facts of Delvey's case during a Sept. 5 broadcast and falsely told viewers that Delvey owed compensation. Alyssa Farah Griffin told viewers that she “still owes people money and scammers tend to remain scammers.” Whoopi Goldberg noted, “The families whose family members were detained by immigration who have gone to court to get their father or their mother or their brother back, and this woman, they gave her permission to do that.”

Before his apology, Delvey wrote on X: “While you are entitled to your opinion, you should at least get the facts straight. I have served my sentence and paid everyone back over 3 years ago. I look forward to your correction on the show.”

The backlash continued on social media, particularly in the comments under Delvey's pictures and videos on the official “Dancing with the Stars” Instagram page.

“I am appalled at Ezra. He deserves so much better,” one account said. Another wrote, “Stop glorifying her.” One user argued that “anyone wearing an ankle bracelet should not be allowed to compete.” “Ezra deserves better. The viewers deserve better,” one said.

The controversy surrounding Delvey could help “Dancing with the Stars” achieve golden ratings.

The results of “DWTS” aren't in until after the first elimination Tuesday night, but the premiere's ratings are up from last season after the show returned to ABC this year. According to an ABC press release, the season premiere on Sept. 17 was watched by nearly 5 million viewers and topped television stats in total viewers and adults 18-49, according to Nielsen. That's a 4% increase from the final season premiere in September of last year, which drew 4.78 million viewers.

USA TODAY has reached out to ABC representatives for comment.

Cast of “Dancing With the Stars”: Meet the stars of season 33, including Anna Delvey

Paula Deen, Tonya Harding, Ryan Lochte on “Dancing with the Stars”: History of the controversial candidates

Dancing with the Stars had a history of casting controversial contestants long before Delvey.

Former Food Network star Paula Deen danced on the show's 21st season in 2015 after admitting in a deposition that she used racist slurs against black people and tolerated racist jokes in the workplace.

Former figure skater Tonya Harding finished third in season 26, two seasons after her former rival Nancy Kerrigan competed on the show. Harding pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution after her ex-husband struck Kerrigan in the knee with a baton, causing injuries in the run-up to the 1994 Olympics. She also paid a $160,000 fine and performed over 400 hours of community service.

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Last season, former Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson danced despite previous arrests for child abuse and suspected domestic violence, including an incident that reportedly occurred as recently as 2022.

In 2014, Peterson, then 29, was charged with a felony for injuring his four-year-old son while disciplining him with a crop, resulting in cuts all over the boy's body. In 2022, Peterson agreed to domestic violence and alcohol counseling after being arrested on suspicion of domestic violence following a flight with his wife, Ashley, who later described the incident as a “private matter.”

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Other recent controversial celebrity dancers include Olympian Ryan Lochte, who was accused of lying to Brazilian investigators when he claimed he was robbed at gunpoint during the 2016 Rio Olympics. A USA TODAY Sports investigation at the time found that despite some embellishments, the framing of Lochte's story was true. His charges were later dropped.

Sean Spicer, White House communications director during the era of former President Donald Trump, danced in 2019, sparking heated reactions after he was accused of using a racial slur at a book event a year earlier.

Delvey is no stranger to controversy, but she's still human. Last Tuesday, after Delvey and Sosa finished dancing, they went upstairs to hear the judges' scores. The duo received 18 out of 30.

Delvey said “DWTS” Co-host Julianne Hough hopes “America gets to see a different side of me.” Delvey says she is “not a natural performer” and told USA TODAY the “DWTS” experience was “overwhelming and terrifying.”

Maybe, as Inaba and Sosa said, she deserves a second chance now. The same one other celebrities have been given. To dance, to reclaim her life, to reinvent herself.

“You know what, I'm a fighter, I'm the underdog,” Delvey said in her statement to USA TODAY. “But I'm going to show people that I deserve to be here. I hope they give me a chance.”

The official Dancing with the Stars bio states, “Her story continues to capture the public's imagination.” Whatever you think of Delvey, maybe we should let her write her own next chapter.

Contributors: Bryan Alexander, Lorena Blas, Marina Pitofsky, Cindy Clark, Dave Meeks, Josh Peter, USA TODAY

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