Dancing With The StarsShowrunner Defends Anna Delvey's Controversial Casting: 'She Served Her Time'

Mar. 15, 2025

Anna Delvey.Photo:ABC/Jose Alvarado, Jr.

ABC/Jose Alvarado, Jr.

Delvey made headlines when it was revealed onGood Morning Americaon Sept. 4 that she would be competing for the mirrorball trophy alongside 12 other contestants.

“We’ve always tried to be a very broad church when it comes to the types of people, the types of backgrounds, the types of stories we have on the show,” Green toldVariety. “Anna is fascinating to a lot of people, a lot of people have watched the dramas about her life and have followed her story, so I think there is an inherent curiosity about her.”

Anna Delvey on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Disney/Andrew Eccles

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Noting how the convicted con artist, 33, is familiar with the “world of fashion,” he added that he believes fans will “really want to see her” hit the dance floor.

“She’s a very valid and interesting part of that cast,” Green explained. “Yes, she had the issues she’s had, but we’ve had other people on the show who’ve had criminal issues in the past. She served her time.”

“I think it’s perfectly valid for her to be on the show, and I think people have been really curious to see how she performs,” he added.

Anna Delvey in court.TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, gained notoriety for posing as a wealthy German heiress and used her social standing to defraud wealthy people, banks and hotels. She was arrested in 2017 and convicted of grand larceny in the first, second and third degree as well as theft of services in 2019.

While speaking to PEOPLE moments after herDWTScasting dropped, Delvey revealed that she receivedspecial permissionfrom ICE to compete under the condition she would continue wearing her ankle bracelet.

(L) Whoopi Goldberg and Anna Delvey.ABC; Scott Gries/USA NETWORK via Getty

ABC; Scott Gries/USA NETWORK via Getty

Soon after, the news went viral and fans and commentators alike criticizedDWTS' decision to include a convicted felon in their roster of competitors.

On the Sept 5. episode ofThe View, moderatorWhoopi Goldbergdidn’t hold back on her thoughts and slammed the network’s casting call.

While her cohostAlyssa Farah Griffinpointed out, “I’m here for a redemption arc, and not a rehabilitation arc: somebody who has owned and taken responsibility for what they did wrong. I’m not convinced this person has. Con artists tend to remain con artists.”

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Dancing with the Starsseason 33 premieres Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with the episode available to stream the next day on Hulu.

source: people.com