Outrage as 'fake heiress' Anna Delvey makes 'DWTS' Season 33 debut with bedazzled ankle monitor

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Convicted con artist Anna "Delvey" Sorokin was seen making her way onto the 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 33 dance floor sporting a glittery ankle monitor during the Tuesday, September 17 premiere. 

The so-called "fake heiress" was found guilty and sentenced to four to 12 years in prison in 2019 for defrauding banks, lodging facilities, and friends by pretending to be an esteemed German heiress named Anna Delvey. 

'DWTS' returns with judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough, and hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, as per The Mirror.

A plethora of fresh celebrities, including Dwight Howard, Ilona Maher, and Jenn Tran, will vie for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in Season 33 of the dancing contest show, working their way through foxtrots, waltzes, and tangos.

Anna Delvey flaunts bedazzled ankle monitor on 'DWTS' Season 33 dance floor

The 33-year-old, who was released from prison in February 2021, now identifies herself as a "New York-based fashionista," as per Daily Mail.

Delvey, introduced as a "fashionista and entrepreneur" at the beginning of the performance, hit the dance floor donning an ankle monitor that was bejeweled to match her ombre blue, purple, pink, and yellow outfit.

She did the Cha-Cha to Sabrina Carpenter's hit 'Espresso', revealing the glittery ankle monitor in a big manner.

The tracking device was also mentioned in the pre-recorded clip that aired right before Delvey's performance when the con artist tripped over the monitor while practicing with pro-dancer Ezra Sosa.

Delvey also explained her need for the device during the show. She chuckled a little and said, "I am wearing an ankle bracelet. I overstayed my visa because I was in jail so it’s kind of hard to leave," 

She added, "I hope everybody that feels negatively about me will be able to turn their opinion of me around. I did serve my time. I reinvented myself many times, and this time I’m going to be a ballroom dancer."

"Dancing with the Stars is a way for me to show people a different side of me. My prior history shows I'm pretty determined. It's a good quality to channel into something positive," expressed 

Delvey went on to receive three sixes from the judges, who were kind to the "fashionista," according to the New York Post. She told the outlet that she genuinely dislikes the "spectacle" that comes with wearing the ankle monitor. 

After her release from prison in February 2021, Delvey was in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for over a year for overstaying her visa. In October 2022, she was put on house arrest. 

According to her representative, Juda Engelmayer, the "fashionista" was allowed to go anywhere in the five boroughs of New York City and within 70 miles (112 km) of her home base under previous house arrest conditions, as reported by the Associated Press.

It seems the conditions had to be modified in order to accommodate her 'DWTS' stint as the show's filming takes place in Los Angeles. Neither ICE nor Engelmayer commented on the apparent modifications. 

'DWTS' fans slam Anna Delvey for flaunting her 'downright disgusting' ankle monitor

Though Anna Delvey hoped that the 'Dancing With the Stars' viewers would judge her for her dancing skills and not based on her past actions, most fans did not welcome the move of including her in the show.

One wrote, "Society is in the toilet. They put on dancers wearing ankle monitors"

Another exclaimed, "Very disappointed that @officialdwts chose to put Anna Delvey and her bedazzled ankle monitor on this show. Giving her a platform is downright disgusting. She’s a damn criminal."

"They're having con artists on there now? Why not famous murderers next?" remarked a person. Someone else added, "Making a mockery of the criminal justice system. Why haven't her parole officers investigated this brazen exploitation?"

"No, thanks. Not interested in seeing a convicted felon who stole millions of dollars," stated an individual. One more wrote, "Still trying to understand why #DWTS has Anna Delvey as a contestant. She’s literally wearing an ankle monitor. When did we start idolizing criminals?"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.