The casting of convicted con artist Anna Delvey on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” has sparked significant controversy, particularly among the co-hosts of ABC’s “The View.” The uproar followed the announcement on September 4 that Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorkin, had been cleared by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to participate in the reality dancing competition while under house arrest.
Moderator Whoopi Goldberg voiced strong criticism during the September 5 episode of “The View.” Goldberg, who is known for her outspoken nature, expressed discontent over Delvey’s participation, given the reality of her legal situation. “I think back to all the families who’ve had family members arrested by ICE, who have gone to the courts to get their dad or their mother or their brother back,” Goldberg said. “And this woman, they gave her permission to go do this. Now, should I think there’s a reason? Is there a two-tiered system here with ICE?”
Anna Delvey gained notoriety for posing as a wealthy German heiress and defrauding banks, hotels, and wealthy individuals. Arrested in 2017, she was convicted in 2019 of grand larceny and theft of services, among other charges. Her original sentence of four to 12 years was cut short when she was released in February 2021 for good behavior. However, shortly after her release, she was taken into custody by ICE for visa violations and has since been living under house arrest in New York City while fighting deportation.
Sunny Hostin, another co-host of “The View,” questioned the consequences of Delvey’s criminal actions. “What’s the consequence of her crimes? A bejeweled ankle monitor — a federal bejeweled ankle monitor — and then a spot on a television show?” Hostin asked, highlighting the perceived leniency in Delvey’s situation.
Sara Haines joined in with a broader critique, referencing Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in May. “We have a felon running for president, why are we surprised?” Haines said, reflecting on the broader context of public figures with criminal records.
The conversation took a more humorous turn when Joy Behar suggested a potential spinoff, “Dancing with the Felons.” “I think that would be such a hit,” Behar teased, although the light-hearted comment did little to mitigate the serious concerns expressed by the co-hosts.
Despite the jokes, the co-hosts were visibly frustrated by Delvey’s casting. Alyssa Farah Griffin expressed skepticism about Delvey’s ability to redeem herself. “I’m here for a redemption arc, and not a rehabilitation arc: somebody who has owned and taken responsibility for what they did wrong,” Griffin said. “I’m not convinced this person has. Con artists tend to remain con artists.”
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Goldberg, who is often reserved on pop culture issues, reiterated her frustration. “She still owes people money. I don’t understand why she gets to stay!” Goldberg lamented. Behar suggested that Delvey’s attractiveness might be influencing her treatment. “Well that’s a little bit of a piss-off, I have got to tell you,” Goldberg responded, connecting Delvey’s casting to broader debates around immigration. “You know, I like pretty people too, but I gotta say, I’m listening to people complain about what’s going on at the border and who shouldn’t be here — well what the hell, man? How does this work?” Goldberg added, “This is a [f— you] in the face of a lot of people who have been trying to make their way back to this country and families torn apart.”
Goldberg also noted that previous felons on the show, such as Teresa Giudice, Lil’ Kim, and Tommy Chong, participated without the added complication of an ankle monitor. “They did it while not wearing an ankle bracelet,” Goldberg said.
Delvey, who will compete alongside her partner Ezra Sosa, defended her participation in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE. She claimed it took ICE ten days to approve her request to appear on “Dancing with the Stars,” and she described the process as “very close to the starting day.” She dismissed concerns about the controversy, stating, “If someone is that upset about casting on a dancing show, I don’t know what to tell them.”
Delvey emphasized that her ankle monitor would not hinder her performance. “In what way would it affect my performance? It’s actually pretty light,” she told The Hollywood Reporter.
As Delvey prepares to compete for the mirrorball trophy, the debate over her participation continues, reflecting broader discussions about justice, celebrity, and immigration.
