"People should give me a second chance," Dancing with the Stars' Anna Delvey responds to recent backlash

Dancing with the Stars season 33 premiered on September 17. A new batch of celebrities showcased their dancing moves and charmed the audience. The reality show pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers. The duos have to perform each week and are scored by the judging panel and the viewers at home.

Among the thirteen performances in the premiere episode, Anna Delvey and her ankle monitor were a huge talking point among fans. Delvey was charged with eight crimes in 2019 and was given a prison sentence. After completing her sentence in 2021, she was charged for overstaying her visa in 2022. She was allowed to perform on DWTS on the condition that she wore an ankle monitor.

DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba extended her support on the show and asked everyone not to pass judgment on Delvey. In an interview with People, after the premier night, Delvey shared that she was proud to have the judge on her side and said that people should give her another chance.

“Yeah, the people should give me a second chance, and I served my time, and paid my restitution,” Delvey said.

Commenting on Carrie Ann Inaba's support, Delvey's dance partner Ezra Sosa added that the DWTS judge spoke to the heart of the show. He said that Dancing with the Stars is all about dancing and nothing else. Sosa said:

“No matter where you come from, it is just about the dance. And no matter what happens, you go out on the floor, you dance, you get your score. And I really do think what she said was really meaningful.”

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Dancing with the Stars' Anna Delvey and Ezra Sosa talk about showcasing her ankle monitor

Delvey donned a two-piece skirt set with a purple, blue, burnt orange, and yellow design. Her ankle monitor was also decorated with the same colors to match her outfit.

In an interview with People, Anna Delvey and her dancing partner Ezra Sosa talked about their performance and working around Delvey's ankle monitor.

Sosa shared that he choreographed their dance routine so they could show off Delvey's ankle monitor throughout their performance. He claimed that the device was the "real star of the show."

“I just really wanted to show off the ankle monitor. Let's be real here. It's the real star of the show,” Sosa said.

Delvey chimed in on the ankle monitor discussion and said that it was part of her costume and its decor was fully customized as per her dress. She shared that the costume department found a way to decorate the monitor without tampering with it. Delvey said:

"The costume department created a detachable sleeve for the monitor. They just used double-sided tape to keep it on and we took it off right after.”

Dancing with the Stars star added that there were no rules regarding decorating the device; they just had to ensure they did not cause any damage. Sosa then shared that he was excited to see Delvey's progress going ahead in season 33 of Dancing with the Stars.

Delvey was relieved after the performance. She said that she was nervous and felt that she could have given a better performance. Despite her dissatisfaction, she was grateful for the experience. She appreciated that she got to perform in front of a live audience for the first time.

“I was a bit nervous, and I feel like I could have done better with my dance, especially during the rehearsals, but it was a great experience. I performed in front of a live audience, and that was my first time," Delvey said.

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Dancing with the Stars season 33 episode 2 will be available on ABC on September 24, 2024.