Anna Sorokin, Fake Heiress, Joins 'Dancing with the Stars' Amid Deportation Fight

Anna Sorokin Joins "Dancing with the Stars" as Notorious Ankle Bracelet Fashionista

Anna Sorokin, the con artist infamous for swindling banks, hotels, and friends under the alias Anna Delvey, is making headlines once again with her latest venture: joining "Dancing with the Stars." Announced on "Good Morning America," Sorokin, dubbed the "notorious ankle bracelet fashionista" in a press release, will compete alongside a star-studded lineup. This season also features former NBA star Dwight Howard, actress Tori Spelling, and Jenn Tran, the first Asian American lead from "The Bachelorette," who recently experienced a dramatic finale on her season. Notably, Joey Graziadei, the bachelor from Tran's season, will also be competing for the trophy.

Anna Sorokin, the "Inventing Anna" inspiration, is facing a unique challenge in her latest role on "Dancing With the Stars" due to an ankle bracelet she has worn since October 2022. Sorokin, who was released from prison in February 2021, was subsequently detained by immigration authorities for overstaying her visa and facing deportation to Germany. After more than a year in ICE custody, a judge permitted her to switch to home confinement in October 2022 while she continues to contest her deportation. Despite the complications, the show's promotional material features Sorokin in a glamorous dress alongside her ankle monitor, creatively incorporating her real-life situation into her on-screen persona.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has not responded to inquiries about whether Anna Sorokin’s house arrest conditions have been adjusted to allow filming for "Dancing With the Stars" in the Los Angeles area. Sorokin's spokesperson, Juda Engel Mayer, confirmed that under her previous house arrest terms, she was allowed to travel within 70 miles of her home and throughout the five boroughs of New York City. However, Engel Mayer could not provide details on any potential changes to these conditions.

During her house arrest, Sorokin was required to adhere to an immigration judge’s order prohibiting her use of social media. Despite these restrictions, she stayed active by launching a podcast, "The Anna Delvey Show." The podcast featured guests such as comedian Whitney Cummings and technology journalist Taylor Lorenz, who visited Sorokin's East Village apartment in New York City for recordings.

In a June 2023 interview with The Associated Press, Anna Sorokin reflected on how many individuals have leveraged their notoriety into new opportunities. "So many people became famous for bad things and were able to kind of segue it into something different," she noted.

Sorokin's latest effort to capitalize on her infamy is by joining the 33rd season of "Dancing With the Stars." Set to premiere on September 17 on ABC and Disney+, this marks her first mainstream attempt to pivot from her controversial past into a new public role.

Anna Sorokin will be joining the cast of "Dancing With the Stars" alongside Stephen Nedoroscik, widely known as "Pommel Horse Guy." Nedoroscik, a 25-year-old gymnast who won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, was the first contestant announced for the upcoming season. He gained viral fame due to memes highlighting his intense pre-competition preparation and his dramatic transformation before performing on the pommel horse. The 33rd season of "Dancing With the Stars" will feature Sorokin and Nedoroscik as they bring their unique stories to the dance floor.