Whoopi Goldberg and ‘The View’ co-hosts slam ‘Dancing With the Stars’ for casting Anna Delvey
A controversial choice for season 33
In a recent episode of “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg and her co-hosts expressed their disapproval of the decision to cast Anna Delvey in the upcoming season of “Dancing With the Stars.” Delvey, a notorious con artist, gained infamy for posing as a wealthy heiress to infiltrate New York’s elite social and art circles between 2013 and 2017. Her story was dramatized in the popular Netflix series Inventing Anna.
The rise and fall of Anna Delvey
Born to working-class parents in the Soviet Union, Delvey emigrated to Germany with her family at the age of 16. Her elaborate scams eventually led to her arrest and conviction for multiple counts of fraud. Despite her criminal record, Delvey has managed to stay in the public eye, most recently under house arrest in New York while her deportation case is under review. Surprisingly, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has allowed her to participate in the dance competition show.
The View’s take on the casting decision
Goldberg didn’t hold back her criticism, questioning the fairness of the decision. “I think back to all the families who’ve had family members arrested by ICE who have gone to the courts to get their dad or their brother or their mother back. This woman, they gave her permission to go do this,” she said. Goldberg went on to question whether there is a “two-tiered system” within ICE.
Co-host Sunny Hostin added her perspective, highlighting the severity of Delvey’s crimes. “If you think about it, [Delvey] defrauded so many people and then spent about two years in prison, and then had to spend another 18 months in prison for overstaying her welcome and overstaying her visa, so she committed another crime. And what is the, I don’t know, consequence of it? A bejeweled ankle monitor, a federal bejeweled ankle monitor and a spot on a television show.”
Delvey’s response to the backlash
Delvey has been dismissive of the criticism surrounding her casting. “It’s just not that serious. If someone is that upset about casting on a dancing show, I don’t know what to tell them,” she remarked.
A star-studded lineup
Season 33 of “Dancing With the Stars” promises an eclectic mix of contestants. Alongside Delvey, the lineup includes former NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl Champion Danny Amendola, former Bachelor Joey Graziadei, NBA veteran Dwight Howard, Olympians Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik, model Brooks Nader, and actor Eric Roberts.
The broader implications
Goldberg’s comments reflect a broader concern about the justice system and its perceived inconsistencies. “I’m listening to people bitch about what’s going on at the border, and I listen to people bitch about all these people who shouldn’t be here. Well, what the hell, man! How does this work?” she exclaimed. She concluded by labeling the casting as disrespectful to “a lot of people who’ve been trying to make their way back to this country and families are torn apart.”
When and where to watch
Season 33 of “Dancing With the Stars” premieres on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesday, Sept. 17, and will be available to stream on Hulu the following day.
For those interested in exploring more about the contestants and their backgrounds, you can watch the trailer for Inventing Anna to get a deeper understanding of Anna Delvey’s story.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive look at the controversy surrounding Anna Delvey’s casting on “Dancing With the Stars,” enriched with personal reflections and in-depth analysis. For cinema and TV series enthusiasts, the inclusion of direct links to trailers and information pages offers immediate access to additional details and multimedia resources.