‘Awful Attitude’: Anna Delvey Sparks Outrage with Her ‘DWTS’ Performance and Behavior — Here’s Why Viewers Feel Bad for Her Partner

Season 33 of “Dancing with the Stars” became a center of controversy since the announcement that Anna Delvey, the infamous convicted con artist, had joined the cast. Delvey, 33, who became notorious for her high-society scams in New York, stirred up even more criticism after her recent performance on the show.

On Tuesday, September 24, Delvey and her professional dance partner, Ezra Sosa, performed a Quickstep to KT Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See,” a track featured in “The Devil Wears Prada.” The performance was part of the show’s highly anticipated Oscars Night.

However, the two-hour episode ended in disappointment for Delvey and her partner, as they were eliminated in a double-elimination round. The host, Alfonso Ribeiro, and co-host, Julianne Hough, announced that the pair, along with Tori Spelling and her partner, Pasha Pashkov, had received the lowest combined scores from the judges and viewer votes.

Despite Delvey’s efforts, her performance seemed to lack the spark expected from a show known for its energetic and vibrant routines. Her presence on the show was met with widespread outrage online, as viewers expressed frustration over her demeanor and performance.

One user shared their thoughts, “It seems like she doesn’t want to be there. All the other contestants seem to have a lot more enthusiasm than her, even if they’re not the smoothest dancers. At least convince us that you’re here for a reason!”

Another fan echoed the sentiment, saying, “That was painful to watch. You can see that Ezra is trying so hard but she just looks like she [doesn’t] wanna be there. Hope she is eliminated tonight!!”

After the elimination, many viewers expressed relief, with one writing, “So glad Anna was sent home. What an awful attitude!!!” Another user added, “No, very emotionless.”

However, not all the feedback was negative. A supporter of Delvey commented, “I enjoyed it. Not everyone has to pretend to be americas sweet heart and make it seem like life is perfect and be all smiles. I enjoy her [sic].”

Following her departure, Delvey admitted that she was “very sad” to leave the competition. Despite the backlash, her partner, Sosa, spoke positively about their time together.

He noted that although their journey on “Dancing with the Stars” ended sooner than they had hoped, it was rewarding to see Delvey open up and perform with grace. He described her time on the dance floor as a potential redemption for the reality star, allowing her to step into a different spotlight.

As public criticism of Delvey’s time on “Dancing with the Stars” continued to grow, her pro-partner Sosa offered insight into what was happening behind the scenes. In a heartfelt video shared on September 23, Sosa opened up about the difficulties Delvey faced on and off the dance floor.

“I just want to come on here and just talk about my first official show as a professional dancer on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’” Sosa shared. He was filled with gratitude, calling it the “best day ever” and saying he felt “so much love from literally every single person, including my partner.” However, he noted that Delvey was not feeling the same positivity.

Sosa recounted a tough moment after the “DWTS” premiere, where Delvey faced a flood of negative comments. “On my end, I was feeling so much positivity,” he explained, becoming visibly emotional.

“On my partner’s end, she wasn’t receiving the same. I think the hardest part of my day after [the] press line, she was reading the comments and we couldn’t find her. They finally found her in the bathroom. She was crying. I’ve never seen her like that,” recounted Sosa.

Sosa, who grew closer to Delvey during rehearsals, expressed how much he wanted her experience on the show to be a positive one. “As her partner, I wanted to give her the best experience she possibly could, and knowing that that’s not the case, it really did break my heart,” he added.

However, the professional dancer made it clear that he could not defend Delvey’s past. “I know what she did was really controversial and was not right,” Sosa admitted. “I can never justify that for her and for anyone in her life. It’s really hard for me, because this person that I’m truly just falling in love with every single day in rehearsal isn’t the person that everyone sees in the media.”

Despite the challenges, Sosa believed that Delvey deserved another chance, saying, “No one deserves the amount of hate that she’s getting right now. She deserves a second chance.”

Following Delvey’s casting, “DWTS” judge Carrie Ann Inaba addressed the negative reception she received. While acknowledging the controversy, Inaba focused on the importance of fairness within the ballroom.

“In the context of my interaction with [Anna], it’s about what she does in the ballroom,” Inaba explained. She called for a level of respect during Delvey’s performances, saying, “My comments about giving her a chance were more for the studio audience who are a part of the show. The energy in the room was really low when she danced. And I think when someone enters your house as a guest, we should treat them as such. I think that’s just being a good human.”

Inaba’s remarks highlighted the democratic nature of the show’s voting system. “The beauty is that, as always, the fans can vote or not vote for whomever they choose, and they have the power to make their statement about it by the way they vote,” she divulged.

Delvey’s participation in “Dancing with the Stars” may have offered her a second chance in the public eye, but her past continues to follow her.

Convicted of defrauding New York’s elite out of more than $200,000, Delvey—whose real name is Anna Sorokin—was sentenced to prison for grand larceny and other charges. Posing as a wealthy German heiress, she conned hotels, restaurants, and financial institutions to fund her extravagant lifestyle.

When Anna Delvey joined “DWTS,” it was revealed that she would do so while sporting an unexpected accessory — an ankle monitor. The decision to have her on the show sparked a firestorm of mixed reactions at the time, with some social media users labeling the decision as ludicrous.

Delvey was cast alongside former NBA star Dwight Howard, actress Tori Spelling, and television personality Jenn Tran.

Her participation was announced on “Good Morning America,” stirring up a frenzy on social media. Many found the idea of Delvey performing while under legal surveillance bizarre and controversial.

“This is absurd,” one person commented. “The ankle monitor will make it really interesting,” someone else added. “But she’s not a star?” another person typed.

Other social media users found the news amusing, with one person sharing, “I have never wanted to watch this show until now.” Others supported Delvey, writing, “Looking forward to [supporting] your journey on the show!”

Delvey’s dance partner, Sosa, took to Instagram to share the news, writing, “Excited to announce my very first partner for DWTS is none other than the iconic @theannadelvey!”

“Thrilled to be hitting the dance floor with someone who knows how to keep everyone on their toes—both in and out of the ballroom. We’re ready to hustle our way to the top—just without the wire transfers this time. 😘 💃🏽🕺🏽 @theannadelvey @dancingwiththestars #dwts,” the caption continued.

When asked what prompted her to join ABC’s reality dancing competition, Delvey admitted she was persuaded to join. “I kind of got talked into doing this,” she said.

She was then granted permission from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “[…] And then it was kind of too late to back out,” she revealed.

Delvey was released from prison in 2021 after serving four years but has since been on house arrest while fighting her deportation case. Though her time on “Dancing with the Stars” has come to an abrupt end, the conversations around her character and actions remain very much alive.