Anna Delvey’s Dancing with the Stars Elimination: Inside the Brief, Controversial Season 33 Run

Anna Delvey’s appearance on Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars ended during the second week of competition in September 2024, when she and partner Ezra Sosa were sent home in a surprise double elimination alongside actress Tori Spelling. Delvey's brief tenure generated intense public debate, culminating in a blunt, viral post-elimination exit line.

The Path to the Ballroom: Casting, Legal Approvals, and Ankle Monitors

The announcement that Anna Sorokin—known publicly by her alias Anna Delvey—would join the cast of Dancing with the Stars for its 33rd season immediately sparked widespread media attention and online debate. Sorokin gained international notoriety following her 2019 conviction on multiple counts of grand larceny and theft of services, having posed as a wealthy German heiress to defraud banks, hotels, and acquaintances out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. After serving prison time, she remained in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while appealing a deportation order, living under strict house arrest conditions in New York City.

To participate in the live television competition produced in Los Angeles, California, Sorokin had to secure special modifications to her house arrest conditions. Federal immigration authorities granted permission for her to travel out of state for work obligations, provided she maintained continuous GPS monitoring.

Her mandatory ankle monitor became a visual centerpiece of her appearances. Rather than attempting to conceal the device, the show's wardrobe department, working alongside Sorokin, decorated the monitor with custom rhinestones and sparkles, turning a legal restriction into a key element of her stage persona.

Sorokin was paired with professional dancer Ezra Sosa, who was making his official debut as a full-time pro partner on the series. The pairing drew immediate interest, combining a novice pro eager to showcase his choreography skills with one of the most polarizing public figures to ever enter the competition.

Week-by-Week Breakdown of Anna Delvey's DWTS Performances

Despite the heavy media coverage surrounding her background, Delvey’s actual time on the ballroom floor lasted just two live performance episodes. The judges evaluated her technique, posture, and emotional engagement during her brief run.

Week 1: The Debut Cha-Cha

During the season premiere on September 17, 2024, Delvey and Sosa danced a Cha-Cha to the track "Cha Cha" by Girlgroup.

• Choreography & Technique: The routine incorporated classic Cha-Cha footwork, basic Cuban motion, and side-by-side syncopated steps. Delvey struggled with foot articulation and dynamic energy, presenting a reserved demeanor throughout the dance.
• Judges' Scoring:
  • Carrie Ann Inaba: 6
  • Derek Hough: 6
  • Bruno Tonioli: 6
  • Total Score: 18 out of 30
• Judicial Feedback: The judges noted her potential and recognized the difficulty of dancing under immense public pressure. However, they highlighted a distinct lack of facial expression and performance warmth, encouraging her to lean into the joy of dance rather than holding back emotionally.

Week 2: The Final Jive

During the second episode on September 24, 2024, the couple performed a Jive set to "Pepper" by Flow Dan. The Jive is historically one of the most physically demanding ballroom styles, requiring rapid leg kicks, sharp flicks, and continuous endurance.

• Choreography & Technique: Sosa crafted a fast-paced routine designed to push Delvey's boundaries. While she executed the pattern steps and kicks without major mechanical blunders, the performance lacked the requisite bounce action, sharp musicality, and high energy characteristic of top-tier Jives.
• Judges' Scoring:
  • Carrie Ann Inaba: 6
  • Derek Hough: 5
  • Bruno Tonioli: 6
  • Total Score: 17 out of 30
• Judicial Feedback: Derek Hough pointed out that the kicks lacked sharpness and tension, dropping his score by a point from the previous week. Carrie Ann Inaba commended her effort to keep pace with the complex music, while Bruno Tonioli urged her to project more confidence and enthusiasm to connect with viewers at home.

The Night of Elimination: How the Exit Unfolded

The second episode of Season 33 was designated as a double elimination, meaning two of the 13 competing couples would be removed at the end of the broadcast based on a combination of judges' scores and viewer votes from both Week 1 and Week 2.

• Season 33 Week 2 Double Elimination
  • Anna Delvey & Ezra Sosa
    • Combined Score: 35/60
    • Status: ELIMINATED
  • Tori Spelling & Pasha Pashkov
    • Combined Score: 34/60
    • Status: ELIMINATED

When combining the scores across the first two weeks, Delvey and Sosa held a cumulative total of 35 out of 60 points:

• Week 1 Cha-Cha: 18/30
• Week 2 Jive: 17/30

This placed them near the bottom tier of the leaderboard, though slightly ahead of a few other celebrity contenders. However, Dancing with the Stars relies equally on public voting. Viewers submit votes via online portals and SMS while the live show airs in the Eastern and Central time zones.

At the conclusion of the episode, co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough revealed the bottom couples. Delvey and Sosa, along with actress Tori Spelling and her partner Pasha Pashkov, received the lowest combined total of judges' marks and fan votes, resulting in their immediate elimination from the competition.

The "Nothing" Moment: A Viral Exit Line

While early eliminations are common on reality competition shows, Delvey’s departure sparked widespread commentary due to her final exchange with co-host Julianne Hough.

Immediately following the elimination announcement, Hough approached the couple on stage for a customary brief exit interview. Hough asked Sorokin what she would take away from her experience participating in the show and learning to dance.

Sorokin offered a one-word response:

"Nothing."

The blunt answer drew gasps and laughter from the live studio audience, while partner Ezra Sosa reacted with visible surprise before laughing alongside her.

Social media platforms immediately amplified the moment. Clips of the interview accumulated millions of views across TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram within hours of the broadcast.

Critics of her casting viewed the comment as proof of a lack of gratitude and effort for a prestigious television platform. Conversely, supporters and pop culture commentators framed the deadpan delivery as fully consistent with the detached persona that initially made her a media sensation.

In subsequent press interviews following the show, Sosa defended Sorokin, explaining that her deadpan demeanor was largely a coping mechanism for dealing with persistent public backlash and anxiety under live television pressure. Sorokin herself clarified in follow-up podcast appearances that she felt her efforts were heavily prejudged by viewers regardless of her actual technical progress on the dance floor.

Complete Season 33 Performance Comparison

To understand where Delvey stood relative to the competition during her brief run, the table below outlines the judges' scores, routines, and results for the bottom-performing couples during the early weeks of Season 33.

While contestants like Eric Roberts and Reginald VelJohnson scored lower on pure technical points from the judging panel during the first two weeks, higher viewer vote totals kept them safe, leading to Delvey's early exit despite her slightly higher technical marks.

Structural Factors and Casting Controversy

Delvey's early elimination was influenced by several factors beyond her technical dance performance.

1. Public Perception and Voting Dynamics

Dancing with the Stars relies heavily on audience voting. Casting figures involved in legal controversies often struggle to secure the popular vote needed to advance through the competition. Viewers frequently vote for celebrities they find relatable, inspiring, or charming—qualities that clashed with Sorokin's public persona as a convicted fraudster.

2. Emotional Disconnect on Camera

Ballroom dance requires strong chemistry between partners and open expression toward the audience. Delvey’s restrained performance style alienated viewers who sought emotional transparency.

• Balancing the DWTS Voting Equation
  • Judges' Scores (Technical Merit)
    • Week 1: 18/30
    • Week 2: 17/30
    • Solid Mid-Tier Technical Placement
  • Fan Voting (Public Appeal)
    • Negative sentiment online
    • Low fan conversion
    • Lowest Public Vote Total Overall
  • Outcome
    • Early Elimination

3. Media and Backlash Pressures

Her casting drew public criticism from traditional television critics and viewers who argued that a broadcast network should not offer a lucrative platform to a convicted felon serving home confinement. This environment created a high threshold for her to win over uncommitted voters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Anna Delvey leave Dancing with the Stars early?

Anna Delvey was eliminated during the Week 2 double elimination episode of Season 33. Her departure was determined by the combined total of judges' technical scores and fan votes from the first two weeks of live shows. Despite not having the absolute lowest judges' scores, she failed to secure enough audience votes to remain in the competition.

Was Anna Delvey allowed to travel for Dancing with the Stars while under house arrest?

Yes. Sorokin obtained authorization from federal immigration authorities to travel from New York to Los Angeles specifically for work purposes related to the filming of the show. However, she was required to wear her court-mandated GPS ankle tracking monitor at all times during rehearsals and live broadcasts.

Who was Anna Delvey’s professional dance partner on the show?

She was paired with professional dancer Ezra Sosa. Season 33 marked Sosa’s first season as a main professional partner on Dancing with the Stars, having previously served as a troupe member on the series.

What did Anna Delvey say after she was eliminated?

When co-host Julianne Hough asked her on live television what she would take away from her experience on the show, Sorokin answered with a single word: "Nothing." The deadpan response quickly went viral across social media platforms.

Key Takeaways and What Came Next

Anna Delvey’s run on Dancing with the Stars highlights the complex dynamics of casting high-profile, controversial public figures on network reality television. While casting famous or notorious individuals generates high initial ratings and media coverage, long-term success on voting-based competition shows requires building a genuine connection with the viewing public.

Following her elimination from Season 33, Sorokin returned to New York to comply with her ongoing immigration court proceedings and house arrest directives. Her brief appearance remains one of the most widely discussed moments of the season, illustrating how audience sentiment often weighs heavier than technical scoring in live reality television formats.