Anna Sorokin, infamous for her art world scams and portrayal in Netflix’s Inventing Anna, traded con artistry for choreography but was voted off Dancing with the Stars this week after just two performances. The faux heiress, known as Anna Delvey to Manhattan’s elite, couldn’t charm her way to ballroom success.
Sorokin faced the first elimination round of the season, a double cut, alongside actress Tori Spelling of Beverly Hills, 90210 fame. For her final dance, Sorokin and partner Ezra Sosa performed the quickstep to KT Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See,” earning a score of 17 out of 30 from the judging panel. This was a slight dip from their debut performance the previous week, a cha-cha to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” which garnered them 18 points. While her initial score placed her mid-pack, Tuesday’s performance landed Sorokin and Sosa with the second-lowest score from the judges.
This week’s eliminations hinged on a combination of judge scores and viewer votes, and Sorokin reportedly struggled to win over the Dancing with the Stars audience. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba even acknowledged the palpable audience reaction during Sorokin’s first performance. “I just want to say, let’s all just give this a chance, because I can imagine that this is scary for you,” Inaba said to Sorokin, before addressing the room, “I’m not pro or against what you’ve done, but this is about your dancing here, so let’s all give her this space, please.”
Dancing with the Stars faced criticism for casting Sorokin, given her convictions for grand larceny and fraud. Her schemes involved defrauding friends, hotels, and banks to fund a lavish lifestyle and her aspirations for an art foundation. The casting also raised eyebrows concerning her immigration status. Currently in ICE custody and under house arrest, Sorokin, who immigrated from Russia to Germany as a child, is fighting deportation. Despite her legal battles, she received ICE permission to participate in the show, even showcasing her mandated ankle monitor with rhinestones.
Despite the controversy, Sorokin’s sardonic humor resonated with a segment of viewers. When asked about her takeaway from her brief Dancing with the Stars experience following her elimination, Sorokin’s response was characteristically blunt: “Nothing.”
