Convicted fraudster Anna Sorokin, also known as the ‘fake heiress,’ made her debut on “Dancing With the Stars” sporting a flashy ankle monitor during the show’s latest season premiere. Despite her criminal past of scamming banks, hotels, and acquaintances by posing as a wealthy German heiress named Anna Delvey, Sorokin seemed unfazed by the ankle monitor. She and dance partner Ezra Sosa performed a routine to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” while drawing attention to the bedazzled ankle monitor, which Sosa jokingly referred to as the true star of the show.
In an interview with The Associated Press after the performance, Sorokin mentioned that the ankle monitor was not bothersome and that she had requested it to be snugly fitted to avoid any inconvenience. Reflecting on her dance, Sorokin expressed a sense of relief that it was over and acknowledged that she believed her performance could have been better but viewed the experience positively.
Despite facing criticism from early reviews and social media reactions, Sorokin expressed hope that viewers would be willing to give her a chance to showcase her abilities and emphasized that she had served her time and made restitution for her crimes. Following her release from prison in February 2021, Sorokin encountered immigration issues due to overstaying her visa, leading to her being held by ICE before being allowed to switch to home confinement in October 2022 while fighting deportation to Germany. An adjustment to her release conditions permitted her to travel from New York to Los Angeles for the dancing show’s filming.
