The elimination of Anna Delvey, the so-called "Fake Heiress," from Dancing With the Stars has ignited a wave of reactions both on and off the dance floor, sparking strong opinions from judges, fellow dancers, and fans alike. The moment that stood out most came when Delvey, 33, was asked what she would take away from the competition. Her one-word response: "Nothing."
Former DWTS professional Cheryl Burke didn't mince words when asked to weigh in on Delvey's dismissive comment. "I believe the feeling is mutual from the fans of the show," Burke, 40, told Variety on September 25, suggesting that Delvey's attitude likely echoed how viewers felt about her participation in the competition. Delvey's remark, coupled with her apparent lack of emotion, drew criticism from many, including Burke, who noted that there was a disconnect between the former convict and the spirit of the show.
Delvey's partner, Ezra Sosa, a newcomer to the DWTS pro roster, shared a more nuanced perspective. While Sosa did little more than roll his eyes at Delvey's comment on live television, he later opened up about her emotional response behind the scenes. According to Sosa, Delvey had been brought to tears during week one after facing backlash for her presence on the show, telling fans on Instagram that she had disappeared after the live taping only to be found crying in the bathroom.
Anna Delvey's final words on #DWTS may be some of the best I've heard on reality TV pic.twitter.com/Utp21pNTdn — Mike Bloom (@AMikeBloomType) September 25, 2024
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba also expressed disappointment over Delvey's ungracious exit. "I was taken aback by her comment," Inaba told Entertainment Weekly. "It was dismissive not only of the opportunity she was given but also of all of us who work on the show-from the dancers to behind the scenes to the creative team." Inaba added that a bit of gratitude could have shifted the entire narrative around Delvey's participation.
Delvey's appearance on Dancing With the Stars was controversial from the start. Following her 2019 conviction for defrauding wealthy individuals and businesses, she was sentenced to 12 years in prison. In 2021, she was released on parole, though she remains under house arrest pending deportation proceedings. Her time on DWTS marked a rare public outing for the former socialite, and she competed while wearing a bedazzled ankle monitor.
Burke, reflecting on the season in her podcast Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans, speculated that Delvey's attitude might have been influenced by the public scrutiny she faced. "Psychologically, she might have felt like she was being attacked," Burke said, adding that Delvey's stoic demeanor on the show suggested she was guarding herself against the criticism. "She looked entitled," Burke commented, although she said she knew that wasn't truly the case.
The fallout from Delvey's participation extended beyond her elimination. In her interview with Good Morning America, Delvey doubled down on her feelings, going so far as to say that getting eliminated was her favorite part of the experience. "I'm not a performer," she had admitted in her pre-elimination interviews, acknowledging that Dancing With the Stars had pushed her out of her comfort zone.
The controversy surrounding Delvey's casting also overshadowed the debut of Sosa, a young professional dancer who many felt deserved a different kind of partner for his first season. Burke, in an interview with Us Weekly, voiced her belief that had Delvey been paired with more experienced pro Val Chmerkovskiy, the outcome could have been different. "Val would've cracked her open," Burke said, adding that Chmerkovskiy's experience could have helped Delvey find "whatever emotion she needed to express."
Despite her high-profile exit, Delvey's time on DWTS will likely be remembered as much for the controversy it stirred as for the dancing itself. While some viewers tuned in out of curiosity, many fans and cast members alike felt that Delvey's inclusion in the show never quite fit with the program's usual spirit of transformation and redemption.
Inaba's final assessment captured the prevailing sentiment: "It's a shame," she said. "A little gratitude could have changed everything."
