Anna Delvey, the notorious fake heiress convicted in 2019 of grand larceny and theft of services for duping affluent individuals and businesses, sought to dispel any misconceptions amidst accusations leveled against her. The controversy arose when she was implicated in the alleged abandonment of rabbits used in a photoshoot at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York.
On August 7, the 34-year-old, donning a short blue dress and her ankle monitor, posed around New York City with two rabbits on a leash, captured by photographer Jasper Soloff and shared on Instagram. However, shortly after the shoot, a social media user claimed that the model rabbits resembled ones they had found deserted in Prospect Park, according to Page Six.
In response to the uproar surrounding the purportedly discarded rabbits, Anna addressed the issue on her Instagram Story on August 11. She clarified that her assistant, Christian Batty, as per the New York Post, had informed her about knowing someone who could "lend us bunnies for a few hours" and had provided several rabbits. "I later found out," Anna penned on her Instagram Story, "that instead of borrowing animals from a legitimate source, as he had claimed, he had acquired them via Facebook Marketplace with the intention of releasing them into Prospect Park—a plan I knew nothing about. The notion that someone would jeopardize the welfare of innocent animals for personal networking opportunities deeply troubles me."
Anna, who emphasized her love for animals, expressed her horror at the events that unfolded, noting that she would refrain from using animals in her future shoots and would endeavor to ensure the rabbits were safely rehomed. "I don't consume meat, and I had no part in the acquisition, transportation, or return of these animals," she asserted. "I categorically condemn such actions."
In another post, Anna revealed, "Christian Batty lied for days about returning the rabbits. It turns out his whole plan was to discard them." She further shared alleged screenshots of texts exchanged in a group chat with Christian, Jasper, and publicist Kelly Cutrone. Jasper inquired if the rabbits used in the shoot were the same ones that were abandoned, stating, "It's better to know than to lie to us."
Christian, who has since deleted his Instagram page, allegedly confessed in the texts to releasing the rabbits in the park. He mentioned picking them up from someone in Yonkers, New York, whom he met through the Facebook page NYC Bunnies, who was looking to surrender the pets. According to Christian, he tried contacting the owner about returning the animals but was blocked. He allegedly wrote, "I was panicking with bunnies. That's why I dumped them."
Christian also publicly apologized for abandoning the rabbits in an Instagram Story that has since been deleted, according to the Post. "When I realized the rabbits were being surrendered to me, I panicked," he wrote. "At 19, with no experience in caring for animals... and unaware of available resources, I felt overwhelmed and made the worst possible choice. Mistakenly believing that there were already rabbits in the area, I released them [in Prospect Park], thinking it was my best option. That belief was wrong, and I deeply regret it."
Fortunately, it appears that three of the rabbits used in the shoot are now in the foster care of animal rescuer Terry Chao, according to the Post. Another bunny featured in the shoot belonged to Instagram user @natflowerss, who posted a photo of her pet on Instagram on August 11, reassuring everyone that her rabbit Benito "is fine at home." She explained that she didn't know Anna or anyone involved before the shoot but saw Anna's Instagram Story requesting bunnies and "thought it would be nice for him to meet other rabbits." She added that she had no knowledge of the other rabbits' abandonment post-shoot, stating, "Had I known, I would have been happy to provide Christian with knowledge and shelter, as my rabbit was rescued from a similar situation."
Jasper also addressed the situation through his lawyer, Gary Adelman. "This was not Jasper's photoshoot," he told Page Six on August 11. "Jasper had no knowledge or input regarding how the bunnies were obtained or their fate after the shoot." His lawyer further noted that Jasper is a "huge animal lover" who has cared for "birds, cats, dogs, parakeets, iguanas, and has a lovely dog named Tinkerbell" throughout his life, and was relieved that the bunnies had found a safe haven.
As for Anna, she announced on Instagram Stories that she had donated $1,000 to All About Rabbits Rescue.
