Whoopi Goldberg and Co-Hosts Criticize Casting of Convicted Con Artist Anna Delvey on “Dancing With the Stars”

Whoopi Goldberg and her fellow co-hosts of “The View” expressed their disapproval of the casting decision made by “Dancing With the Stars” to include convicted con artist Anna Delvey in its upcoming season. Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, gained notoriety for her fraudulent activities and was recently released from immigration jail after serving time on house arrest.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Delvey admitted that she was persuaded to join the show and had obtained permission from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to participate. Despite her impending deportation to Germany, the 33-year-old fake heiress will continue to wear her ankle monitor while competing on the dance competition.

Goldberg, an EGOT winner, expressed her concern on “The View,” highlighting the contrast between Delvey’s opportunity and the struggles faced by families dealing with ICE arrests. She criticized the decision to allow Delvey to participate, describing it as a disrespectful gesture towards those who have fought to reunite their loved ones and rebuild their lives.

Sunny Hostin, another co-host, acknowledged the allure of a “come up” but questioned whether Delvey was being rewarded for her fraudulent actions. Hostin pointed out that Delvey defrauded numerous individuals and served time in prison, only to receive an ankle monitor and a spot on a television show as consequences for her actions.

Joy Behar, the show’s comedienne, humorously suggested that ABC should consider creating a spinoff series called “Dancing With the Felons.”