Grab your sequins and your skepticism, because we’re about to waltz into the wildest reality TV twist since… well, since the last time a convicted fraudster joined a dance competition.
Oh wait, that’s never happened before!
Anna Delvey, the infamous “Soho Grifter” who conned New York’s elite faster than you can say “wire transfer,” is trading her prison jumpsuit for a ballroom gown.
But hold onto your credit cards, folks – she’s bringing along a very special dance partner: her ankle monitor.
Anna Delvey wears an ankle monitor because it’s a condition of her release from ICE custody. She’s still fighting deportation and appealing her criminal conviction. The monitor tracks her movements, ensuring she doesn’t pull a disappearing act worthy of her greatest scams. But in true Delvey fashion, she’s turned this legal leash into a PR goldmine, flaunting it in DWTS promos like it’s the season’s must-have accessory.
From Con Artist to Cha-Cha Champion?
Let’s break down this bizarre ballroom blitz, shall we?
Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin (but let’s be real, even she’s probably forgotten that by now), is joining the cast of Dancing With the Stars for its 33rd season. Yes, you read that right – the woman who convinced New York’s upper crust she was a German heiress is now going to convince America she can foxtrot.
Her dance partner?
Ezra Sosa, a newcomer to the show who’s probably Googling “how to spot a con artist” as we speak. Sosa seems optimistic, telling The Hollywood Reporter he’s “excited for America to actually see” the real Anna Delvey. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure America’s already seen plenty of the real Anna Delvey – in courtroom sketches.
But let’s talk about that ankle monitor, shall we?
It’s the elephant in the room, or should I say, the clunky piece of tech on her ankle.
Delvey, ever the master of spin, brushed off concerns about how it might affect her performance. “In what way would it affect my performance? It’s actually pretty light,” she told THR. Oh Anna, always making the best of a bad situation. I half expect her to bedazzle the thing and call it a “statement piece.”
Now, you might be wondering how on earth a woman under house arrest managed to snag a spot on a national dance competition.
Well, it turns out Delvey’s got some fancy legal footwork to match her newfound dance moves. Her immigration lawyer, John Sandweg (a former ICE bigwig, no less), pulled off some legal magic to loosen her restrictions.
She’s still got the ankle bracelet, but hey, at least now she can cha-cha-cha her way to potential deportation in style.
ABC, in a move that can only be described as “peak 2024,” is billing Delvey as an “artist, fashion icon and infamous NYC socialite.” Talk about a creative resume! I guess “convicted fraudster” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
Delvey’s ongoing legal battles keep her in a sort of limbo, with her ankle monitor acting as a constant reminder of her crimes and the consequences that still hang over her. Even as she seeks to rebuild her image, the monitor symbolizes the unresolved chapter of her past.
Do you think Delvey will win over fans on Dancing with the Stars, or will her criminal history overshadow her performance? Would you give her a second chance?
Averagebeing’s Take: While it’s easy to roll our eyes at Delvey’s DWTS debut, it’s a stark reminder of how our culture often rewards notoriety over integrity. But who knows? Maybe watching a convicted con artist try to waltz her way back into public favor is the reality check we all need. Either way, it’s gonna be one hell of a show.
