Carrie Ann Inaba had some pointed remarks regarding Anna Delvey's curt dismissal of her elimination from Dancing with the Stars. Immediately following Delvey's exit from the show on Tuesday, September 24th, the 56-year-old DWTS judge addressed Delvey's assertion of having "learned nothing" from the experience.
"I was genuinely stunned by her comment," Inaba confessed to Entertainment Weekly. "It was dismissive, not just of the invaluable opportunity she was granted, but also of her amazing partner Ezra [Sosa] in his maiden season, and all of us who dedicate ourselves to the show—from the dancers to the backstage crew to the creative minds behind it all. We all strived to offer her a fair chance, yet it seems she couldn't appreciate that. It's a shame indeed."
She continued, "A mere display of gratitude could've altered the narrative significantly."
When queried about her surprise at Delvey's elimination, Inaba emphasized that DWTS fans are fiercely passionate and vote for their favorites to claim the Mirrorball trophy. "However, I must emphasize a crucial point. Our fans don't vote to eliminate; that's not our format," she clarified. "Unlike Survivor, we don't vote people off. Rather, our fans cast their ballots for whom they wish to see crowned the winner."
While Delvey's response sparked controversy, her dance partner, 23-year-old Ezra Sosa, shared with Extra that he anticipated her parting words to be quintessentially "Anna Delvey." "I knew she'd say something iconic, true to her brand, upon her departure," he admitted. "It's just who she is. We wouldn't have expected any less."
Despite the bluntness of her reaction, Sosa revealed that Delvey sincerely apologized for prematurely ending his first season as a professional dancer. "She kept apologizing to me," he shared. "She felt genuinely remorseful that my inaugural season was cut short." He expressed his wish for the duo to have lasted longer in the competition, saying, "I truly wanted to stay longer for my partner. I yearned to give her the opportunity to grow on camera and let America glimpse the real her."
Sosa also stressed the need for people to understand "how genuinely kind and misunderstood she is," adding, "I made every effort to see beyond her public persona and recognize the person she is."
Dancing with the Stars' 33rd season airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available for streaming the following day on Hulu.
