Anna Delvey wants an on-air correction from Whoopi Goldberg and The View for comments about her inclusion in DWTS

Anna Delvey, a convicted con artist whose real name is Anna Sorokin, is requesting an on-air apology from ABC’s talk show The View following comments made by co-host Whoopi Goldberg regarding her participation in Dancing With the Stars (DWTS).

Delvey claims Goldberg provided inaccurate information about her legal situation during Thursday’s episode of The View, and is now demanding a correction.

On Thursday, the hosts of The View criticized Delvey’s inclusion in the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars, with Goldberg making pointed comments about her presence in the United States. Goldberg stated,

"She still owes people money. I don’t understand why she gets to stay [in the US]!"

The criticism centered around Anna Delvey’s past criminal convictions and whether it was appropriate for her to participate in such a high-profile reality show.

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Anna Delvey challenges The View hosts over DWTS casting criticism

Anna Delvey was convicted for posing as a wealthy German heiress to defraud New York socialites, businesses, and hotels out of more than $250,000. She was sentenced to prison in 2019 and released in 2021. Since her release, Delvey has been on house arrest, fighting her deportation case under the supervision of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In response to Goldberg’s remarks, Delvey issued a statement to Page Six on Friday, calling for the facts to be corrected.

"While you are entitled to your own opinions, you should at least get your facts straight. I served my time and paid everyone back in full three-plus years ago," Delvey wrote.

She concluded her statement with,

"Looking forward to your on-air correction. Stay nasty ladies, but don’t forget to vote Sept. 17!"—a nod to her first performance on Dancing With the Stars.

Anna Delvey's participation in the reality show has generated significant controversy due to her criminal past. Despite being on house arrest, Delvey was granted special permission by a judge to travel to Los Angeles for the competition, where she will perform with her dance partner, Ezra Sosa. Notably, she will wear her ankle monitor during all performances.

The controversy surrounding Anna Delvey's inclusion in Dancing With the Stars stems from her history of fraud and ongoing legal troubles. The View co-hosts were vocal about their disapproval, with Sunny Hostin highlighting Delvey’s repeated offenses:

"She defrauded so many people and then spent about two years in prison and had to spend another 18 months in prison for overstaying her welcome and overstaying her visa."

Hostin also expressed frustration over the lack of apparent consequences for Delvey’s actions, saying,

"I like a come-up, but when are there consequences to people’s actions?"

Alyssa Farah Griffin echoed similar sentiments, stating that while she supports redemption stories, they should come with accountability.

"She still owes people money. Con artists tend to remain con artists," Griffin added, questioning Delvey's claims of having repaid her debts.

Goldberg went further, suggesting Delvey’s casting was a slap in the face to many families affected by immigration issues. She raised concerns about a possible double standard, asking,

"Is there a two-tiered system here with ICE?"

Delvey's path to competing on DWTS has been marked by legal and media attention. Her story became widely known following the 2018 New York Magazine article by Jessica Pressler, which detailed her life as a fake German heiress. The article was adapted into the Netflix series Inventing Anna, with Julia Garner portraying Delvey.

Anna Delvey reportedly paid back some of her stolen money through earnings from the Netflix series. However, The View’s hosts question whether this was enough to warrant her return to public life, particularly on a show like Dancing With the Stars.

Despite the criticism, Anna Delvey remains set to appear on season 33 of Dancing With the Stars, with the first performance slated for Tuesday, September 17, 2024. The show will air on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the following day.