‘DWTS’ Fans Demand Boycott of Show Over Con Artist Anna Delvey Casting
Following the controversial casting of infamous con artist Anna Delvey, aka Anna Sorokin, on the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars, some fans are calling for a boycott of the ABC competition series.
Delvey’s story was documented in the Netflix series Inventing Anna, which revealed how she’d spent years posing as a wealthy heiress while defrauding banks, hotels, and individuals out of $275,000. She was arrested in 2017 and, in 2019, she was found guilty on eight charges, including second-degree grand larceny, theft of services, and first-degree attempted grand larceny.
She was sentenced to four to 12 years behind bars, of which she served three before being released on good behavior in February 2021. She is now under house arrest and is also banned from using social media.
Since the casting announcement, fans have taken to social media to call out the show for including a convicted criminal in the new season.
“I am not watching it this season because I am not interested in watching criminals, who hurt people, thrive,” wrote one user on the DWTS Reddit forum.
“Thank you. Hers was not a victimless crime. It is gross that they are giving her a platform,” another agreed.
Disney / Andrew Eccles
Another added, “Idk if they’re trying to get more attention or what, but casting people like her is trashy. I used to love this show.”
“Let’s all boycott,” said another. “I’m not watching the show until she’s eliminated.”
Another wrote, “What a poor choice of casting. We can say no though and we need to start putting our foot down. They are nothing without viewers, so don’t watch until she’s gone.”
“Len [Goodman] is spinning in his grave,” said one fan, referring to former DWTS judge Len Goodman, who passed away on April 22, 2023. Another replied, “Glad he doesn’t have to witness this!”
“Of all the thousands of reality stars and actual celebrities, they decide to give her an extra platform? Super disappointed in this,” wrote another.
Delvey, who will be paired with pro dancer Ezra Sosa, previously told TV Insider she isn’t worried about the backlash of being on the show.
“I thought, why not? What’s the worst thing that could happen?” she stated, adding, “I’m not going to go to jail over this, hopefully.”
“Well, if you dance too bad, we’ll see what the judges say,” Sosa joked
What do you think of Delvey’s casting? Let us know in the comments below.
Dancing With the Stars, Season 33 Premiere, Tuesday, September 18, 8/7c, ABC, Streaming Live on Disney+
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Comments are closed on this story.
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J
I am totally disgusted...all of a sudden criminals are seen as wonderful people...I compare her to Donald Trump
10 1
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O
This show is the lowest form of so called entertainment anyway so this just adds another layer of garbage.
This from a company that’s supposed to be so family friendly, 🐂
7
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O
Who else is excited about the new season of Dancing With The Felons?! Really DWTS?? It's not bad enough that your definition of "star" becomes looser and looser each year (I recognize 4 people on the roster), now you've chosen to sensationalize a convicted criminal who has publicly expressed her ambivalence toward participating. Haven't you lost enough viewers? Time to get back to the spirit of the game. This is so disappointing. 😞
5
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N
I just don't understand why they allowed her to get off of house arrest to be on this show of supposed "stars". Also, that ankle bracelet looks so good with that dress, sarcasm.😠👎
5
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O
She should not be on DWTS. She’s not a star, she’s a criminal. What kind of message are we sending? I will not be watching DWTS until she’s eliminated. Very bad choice by ABC.
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G
They just ignore the fact she stole over 400K from Nora, besides the hotels that were screwed over royally. It’s just gross and I don’t want to give her a dime.
4
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A
"Dancing With the Felons"? No, thanks.
4
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B
DWTS - Dancing with the Scammer. How many millions of people on this planet, and you pick this con artist? I guess someone in your casting department is also an impersonator and con artist. Does anyone have common sense or ethics these days? My girls and I are OUT on watching this show until they get rid of this dirtball. How do I explain her claim to notoriety to them, along with her anklet bracelet?
3
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P
Next season they might have the Hawk Tuah girl!
3
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O
WOW Dancing with the stars. You are really scraping the bottom of the barrel when you have a criminal on the show, and she's wearing her ankle bracelet no less. WOW
2
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B
What kind of message are we giving the young.
Commit a crime and go on a TV show as a reward. I am not watching this season and I hope others don't watch.
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B
It is inappropriate to have her on the show. Glad she was eliminated right away. She was very ungracious. No more criminals.
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O
I have watched DWTS since 2012 and, while I have not always agreed with the term ‘Stars’, I continued to watch. However, I will not watch the show this time until this Criminal is eliminated. She is the lowest of the low and still thinks she ‘did nothing wrong’, the classic chant of those who HAVE done something wrong. They should seriously consider changing the name of the show to ‘Dancing with the Criminals.’