'Dancing With The Stars' Contestant And Convicted Felon Anna 'Delvy' Reps On Show 'Predator': They 'Used Me'
Former “Dancing With the Stars” contestant and convicted felon Anna “Delvy” Sorokin is speaking out after her week-two elimination, claiming the show was “predatory” and only cast her to garner feedback.
The 33-year-old, born in Russia under Soviet rule, says he has not been given a fair shot.
“I think that the show obviously used me to boost ratings, they had no plans to give me any chance to grow and didn't care about exploiting me just for attention,” Sorokin told NBC News via email. “It was predatory for them to try [to] I feel inadequate and stupid as I gradually get better, yet they choose to ignore it.”
“It felt like I was never given a fair chance by either the audience or the judges with their unfair scoring,” shared Sorokin, who scored 18 and 17 (out of 30 points) for two dances each week. . “This is supposed to be a dance competition and not a popularity contest.”
Fake heiress Anna 'Delvy' Sorokin, who defrauded NYC elite, in custody amid deportation rumors
“I'm trying to start a new chapter with past mistakes that I made and regret when I was much younger,” added Sorokin. “Not sure when people will finally afford me that second chance and stop harassing me so I can get on with my life.”
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“This is supposed to be a dance competition and not a popularity contest.”
After posing as a wealthy heiress (Anna Delvy) for years, defrauding institutions and individuals, Sorokin was convicted in 2019 of grand larceny, grand larceny and theft of services. He was sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison.
He spent two years in prison before being released on parole, only to be picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) because of an expired visa. Sorokin was finally released from prison in 2022, and placed under strict house arrest without access to social media. Before joining the “Dancing with the Stars” cast, ICE had to give Sorokin permission.
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Social media users initially had a field day after ABC announced Sorokin was joining the cast, with many expressing outrage. The backlash and hysteria only amplified after the release of promo shots of Sorokin and his dance partner, Ezra Sosa, visibly displaying Sorokin's court-issued ankle monitor.
Speaking to Fox News Digital during the premiere episode, Sorokin joked that production “measured” her ankle monitor so that it would perfectly match her elaborate costume.
WATCH: 'Dancing with the Stars' contestant Anna 'Delvy' detailed ankle monitor look
In a podcast episode released this weekend, Sorokin reiterated his frustration while speaking with Tori Spelling. The “Beverly Hills, 90210” star was also a contestant on the competition show and was eliminated the same week as Sorokin.
“It felt like a waste of time for me to do all this. For them to dismiss me so easily,” Sorokin told Spelling on his “Misspelling” podcast. “Seems to be mostly done [a] A negative experience, at least for me, then it was a positive one.”
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After being eliminated last Tuesday, Sorokin went viral for his reaction to what he would take away from the show. “Nothing,” she told professional dancer co-host Julianne Hough.
“That was the truth,” Sorokin said, spelling out his honest, unapologetic response on the night of his elimination. “[The show] Told me what to do. I tried to do this, and even then I was rejected. And, I'm not taking anything away,” she said. “Your advice was priceless. The advice you gave me did not work for me, although I tried to follow it.
Sorokin and ABC did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.