LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Convicted con artist on 鈥淒ancing With the Stars鈥� with a featherweight 鈥� and very sparkly 鈥� ankle monitor.
The so-called 鈥榝ake heiress,' who was convicted of in 2019 after falsely building a reputation as a wealthy German heiress named Anna Delvey, debuted the ballroom-worthy ankle monitor during the premiere of 鈥淒ancing With the Stars'鈥� new season Tuesday night.
鈥淚t鈥檚 actually not a big issue at all. It鈥檚 pretty light and I asked them to make it tight so it doesn鈥檛 dangle. So it鈥檚 not so bad,鈥� she told The Associated Press after the premiere. She and dance pro Ezra Sosa performed a routine set to Sabrina Carpenter's 鈥滶spresso."
鈥淚t鈥檚 the real star of the show, let鈥檚 be honest here,鈥� Sosa said of Sorokin's bedazzled ankle monitor.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 kind of funny how people like 鈥� it鈥檚 not like an ankle weight," Sosa said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not like 20 pounds. It鈥檚 like literally less than a pound and it鈥檚 not a big deal.鈥�
Sorokin acknowledged her debut didn't go as planned.
鈥淚 feel relieved that it鈥檚 over,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel like my dance could have been a little bit better, but I鈥檓 happy I鈥檝e done this and it was a great experience all over.鈥�
Sorokin said she hopes viewers will be somewhat forgiving despite her criminal history.
鈥淗opefully people will give me, will give me a chance to show what I can do. And I served my time and I repaid my restitution," she said.
Early reviews from fans were not positive, with the phrase 鈥淎nna Delvey鈥檚 Lackluster DWTS Debut鈥� among those trending on the social media site X.
While she was released from prison in February 2021, picked her up shortly after she got out, claiming she overstayed her visa and must be returned to her native Germany. The was in ICE custody for over a year before a judge cleared the way for her to switch to home confinement in October 2022 while she fights the deportation case.
Her release terms had to be amended to allow her to travel from New York to Los Angeles for filming.
Jeff Turner, The Associated Press
