Anna Delvey's DWTS partner Ezra Sosa says her controversial comment about getting eliminated was "very iconic"

Anna Delvey's participation in Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) was bound to stir controversy, and her elimination on Tuesday night was no exception. After she and her partner, Ezra Sosa, were cut from the competition, Delvey gave a blunt response when host Julianne Hough asked her what she would "take away" from the experience. Delvey, 33, simply said, "Nothing."

Her one-word response quickly went viral, but her professional dance partner, Ezra Sosa, was not shocked by it. In an interview with ExtraTV, Sosa expressed that he "would expect nothing less" from the infamous "fake heiress," known for her unapologetic demeanor.

"I knew she was going to say something very iconic and something very Anna Delvey with her exit," Sosa told ExtraTV. The 23-year-old dancer added, "Of course, she has to. It’s typical."

Though Anna Delvey's emotionless reply caught the public's attention, Sosa revealed that she was more apologetic behind the scenes than she appeared on camera. He explained that she felt bad for cutting his first DWTS season short.

"She honestly just kept on apologizing to me," Sosa shared. "She felt super sorry that my first season was cut short, and I was like, 'No, don't apologize. I'm here for you, and this was your journey.'"

Despite her controversial final words, Sosa defended Delvey, describing her as "incredibly sweet" yet "misunderstood." He explained that the real person behind the public persona was far kinder than many might assume.

"I think the people that treat her as 'Anna Delvey' — she feels the need to portray that to them," he said. "But when I was dancing and teaching her, I really tried my best to see her for the person she is outside the persona, and she really is so lovely."

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Anna Delvey struggled to adjust to DWTS

Sosa has been one of Anna Delvey's most vocal supporters since her controversial casting was announced on the dance show. However, he acknowledged that Delvey wasn't initially prepared for the intense competition. On a podcast appearance, Sosa mentioned that Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, didn't fully grasp what she had gotten herself into by joining the show.

While Delvey showed some work ethic, Sosa admitted it was challenging to get her fully engaged at first.

"Like every single day she was kind of like, 'Ugh, I don't want to do it,' but now she is here, and obviously, she doesn't want to make herself look like a fool, so she is really putting in the work now," he told podcast host Joe Vulpis.

Despite their efforts, Anna Delvey and Ezra Sosa were eliminated in the second week of the show. Following the premiere episode, Sosa revealed that Delvey was deeply affected by the negative feedback she received online.

The fashionista, who once faked being a wealthy German heiress, was found crying in the bathroom due to the hateful comments, according to Sosa. "It really did break my heart," he said in an emotional TikTok, as he urged fans to give Delvey a "second chance."

With her time on Dancing With the Stars over, Anna Delvey will return to her home in New York City, as per the terms of her agreement with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Delvey, who is convicted of charges like attempted grand larceny, larceny in the second degree, and theft of services, has been under house arrest since 2024 while fighting deportation.

While her DWTS journey was short-lived, Anna Delvey's participation kept audiences talking, and her final, curt comment left a lasting impression that was as much in line with her public persona.

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Dancing With the Stars season 33 continues airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu.