‘Fake heiress’ Anna Sorokin to compete on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ amid ongoing deportation case

Anna Sorokin, the convicted con artist known for posing as a wealthy German heiress named Anna Delvey, is set to compete on the upcoming season of "Dancing With the Stars," despite her ongoing deportation battle. Sorokin, who has been under house arrest in New York since October 2022, is reportedly allowed to travel within 70 miles of her home under the conditions of her release. However, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has not commented on whether her house arrest conditions will be adjusted for the competition.

Sorokin, described as the "notorious ankle bracelet fashionista" in a press release, is joining other notable contestants, including former NBA star Dwight Howard, actor Tori Spelling, and Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik. In a June 2023 interview with the Associated Press, Sorokin mentioned, "So many people became famous for bad things and were able to kind of segue it into something different." Her participation in "Dancing With the Stars" marks her first major television appearance since being released from prison in 2021.

Sorokin’s legal troubles stem from her conviction in 2019 for scamming banks, hotels, and friends. She was taken into ICE custody shortly after her release from prison for overstaying her visa and has been fighting deportation to Germany ever since.