Everything Anna Delvey Does on 'Dancing With the Stars'

By Jennifer Zhan, a Vulture news blogger covering music, internet culture, and TV.

Dancing With the Stars has put the con in controversy. Not everyone was happy to hear convicted scammer Anna Delvey (or Sorokin) say that she got permission from ICE to travel out of state as one of the dance competition’s season 33 contestants. (Hey, house arrest didn’t stop her from landing a podcast and reality show deal.) Ahead of the September 17 premiere on ABC, Delvey suggested to Entertainment Tonight that she’s not nervous — “What’s the worst that can happen? They’re not gonna arrest me for dancing badly” — and quipped in a People featurette that she hopes “the government” will be rooting for her. But what about all the complaints that Delvey shouldn’t get to twirl around on TV? DWTS showrunner Conrad Green addressed the backlash, telling Variety, “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.” If you do not have time for this but are curious, we’ll be monitoring what she and her ankle monitor do every week. Let’s see how long this lasts?

She’s working late, ‘cause she’s a scammer singer dancer. For the final performance of the night, a curly-haired Delvey performed a cha-cha with to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” with a bedazzled ankle monitor and new pro Ezra Sosa. Described by hosts as a “fashionista and entrepreneur,” Delvey acknowledged in her intro package that people might associate her with grand larceny, but insisted that she’s hoping to highlight “a different side” of herself on DWTS. “My past history shows I’m pretty determined and it’s a good quality to channel into something positive,” she said. The real-life inspiration for Netflix’s Inventing Anna added, “I’ve reinvented myself many times, and this time I’m going to be a ballroom dancer.”

After the performance, judge Carrie Ann Inaba pointed out that there was a “shift in the energy” in the room as soon as Delvey hit the floor. Inaba urged the audience to “give this a chance” and focus on the dancing. To that end, Delvey and Sosa received 18 out of 30 points — not the best, but not the worst either. What did Delvey have to say after receiving her score? “I feel happy that I don’t have to do this dance again.” She didn’t say whether she wants to do a new one, but she’s got no choice; no one went home tonight (but there will be a double elimination next week).