Anna Delvey hit the dance floor on Tuesday night’s (Sept. 17) Dancing with the Stars premiere, and did not dance around her criminal history.
During her introduction package ahead of her and partner Ezra Sosa’s cha cha routine — which was set to the band’s take on Sabrina Carpenter‘s “Espresso” — Delvey acknowledged that she “was accused of multiple kinds of grand larceny” in 2017 and “did serve [her] time.”
“And Dancing With the Stars is a way for me to show people a different side of me,” she added. “My prior history shows I’m pretty determined. It’s a quality to channel into something positive.”
She also said she has “reinvented [her]self many times, and this time, [she’s] going to be a ballroom dancer.”
Carrie Ann Inaba addressed the audience’s reaction to Delvey’s debut head on, as she pointed out “a shift in the energy” in the room once Delvey came out, per Entertainment Weekly.
“I would just like to say, let’s all just give this a chance, because I can imagine that this is scary for you,” she shared. “And I’m not pro or for or against anything that you’ve done, but this is about your dancing here. Let’s all give her that space, please.”
As noted by EW, Delvey (who was born Anna Sorokin) was found guilty in 2019 of eight charges, including grand larceny and theft of services. Per BBC News, Delvey served nearly four years of prison time, but was taken into ICE custody after overstaying her visa in the U.S. Thus, Delvey, who was granted permission to leave her New York house arrest to compete on DWTS, sported an ankle monitor on the show.
The co-anchors of The View‘s hot topics table found themselves in hot water after they ripped the show for selecting Delvey as a contestant. Alyssa Farah Griffin claimed that Delvey “still owes people money,” prompting Delvey to order an “on-air correction” be made. Griffin obliged, reading out a statement on Tuesday’s (Sept. 17) episode.
Other Season 33 contestants include Tori Spelling, Joey Graziadei, Jenn Tran and Dwight Howard.
Dancing with the Stars airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
