The notorious con artist, Anna Sorokin, gracefully glided onto the dancefloor of "Dancing With the Stars," adorned with a dazzling yet featherweight ankle monitor that seemed to twinkle under the spotlight. This self-proclaimed "fake heiress," who had cunningly deceived banks, hotels, and even friends by posing as the wealthy German heiress Anna Delvey, debuted her ballroom-worthy accessory during the highly anticipated premiere of the show's new season on Tuesday evening.
"It's hardly a hindrance at all," Sorokin assured The Associated Press post-premiere. "It's surprisingly lightweight, and I requested they tighten it so it wouldn't swing about. It's really not so bad." Alongside dance pro Ezra Sosa, she executed a routine set to the energetic beats of Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso," her ankle monitor stealing the spotlight.
"Let's face it, the real star here is her bedazzled ankle monitor," Sosa quipped, adding a touch of humor to the situation. "It's amusing how people are fascinated – it's not a cumbersome ankle weight, weighing in at less than a pound. It's hardly noticeable."
Despite her initial misgivings, Sorokin acknowledged that her debut performance fell short of perfection. "I'm relieved it's over," she confessed. "I feel my dance could've been sharper, but I'm glad I did it. It was a fantastic experience overall."
She expressed hope that viewers would extend a degree of forgiveness given her criminal past. "I sincerely hope people will grant me a chance to showcase my abilities. I've served my sentence and made amends through restitution," she said.
However, early fan reactions were less than enthusiastic, with phrases like "Anna Delvey's Lackluster DWTS Debut" trending on social media. After being released from prison in February 2021, Sorokin's freedom was short-lived as immigration authorities detained her for overstaying her visa, intending to deport her back to Germany. She spent over a year in ICE custody before a judge granted her home confinement in October 2022, allowing her to film in Los Angeles – a concession made specifically for her participation in the show.
