Dancing with the Stars has cast some controversial personalities in the past. But having convicted criminal Anna Delvey sign on seemed to upset DWTS fans. After serving her time in prison, Anna was released on parole and put under house arrest. While Anna wanted to get a second chance, it seems that most were unwilling to grant that grace. However, her partner, first-time pro Ezra Sosa, was in Anna’s corner.
Ezra Sosa expected Anna Delvey to “say something very iconic”
While many were critical of Anna joining the cast, some also slammed her dancing ability. DWTS alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy called Anna “a sh*tty dancer.” But his brother and current pro Val Chmerkovskiy defended Anna and praised her for her hard work.
After Anna and Ezra were eliminated on Oscars Night, co-host Julianne Hough asked Anna what she was taking away from competing on the show. Anna replied, “Nothing.” Okay, then!
“I knew she was going to say something very iconic and something very ‘Anna Delvey’ with her exit,” Ezra told Extra. “Of course, she has to — it’s very typical. We would expect nothing less of her.” However, backstage, Anna had a different reaction. “She honestly kept on apologizing to me. She felt super sorry that my first season was cut short,” he explained.
What Ezra Sosa wants people to know about Anna Delvey
But Anna also had moments when the online backlash was too much to handle. “Anna is a tough cookie, so seeing her in that state really shocked me and made me sad,” Ezra stated. In the end, the newbie pro wished that Anna could have stayed on DWTS longer. “I honestly wanted to stay longer for my partner. I really wanted to give her a chance to really grow on camera and let America really see who she really is,” he explained.
However, Ezra faced an uphill battle due to Anna’s notoriety. “Not gonna lie, I really loved the challenge. And not to say she was a challenge, but it’s how complex her story is and how America views her that was really a challenge,” the DWTS pro said.
Meanwhile, Ezra shared what he would like the world to know about Anna. “How incredibly sweet she is and how misunderstood she is … I really tried my best to see her for the person she is outside the persona,” he stated.
Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars will return with two episodes on Monday, October 7, and Tuesday, October 8 at 8/7c on ABC and Disney+.
TELL US – DID YOU THINK THAT ANNA’S EXIT LINE WAS “ICONIC?” DID DWTS MAKE A MISTAKE CASTING HER?
