Since there are so many people who work on Dancing with the Stars, there are many fascinating facts for fans to learn about the hit reality show. For example, it is interesting that the stars get paid so much more than the pros, that Derek and Julianne Hough can be competitive, and that so many Real Housewives have appeared.

On top of all that, the main thing that DWTS fans have talked about since her controversial casting is Anna Delvey. For example, there was a lot of talk about Maksim Chmerkovskiy publicly stating he isn’t a fan of Anna. The controversy surrounding Anna only became more divisive after the show’s hosts and judges had very different reactions to what she said after being eliminated from DWTS.

Julianne Hough And Alfonso Ribeiro Defended Anna Delvey’s Controversial Statement After Her DWTS Exit

It was controversial from the moment when it was announced that Anna Delvey, otherwise known as Anna Sorokin, was joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars. After all, Anna rose to fame after she was arrested for fraud and larceny.

Since Anna was controversial throughout her time on Dancing with the Stars, it only seems right that her exit would be scandalous too. Many viewers were shocked when Anna was asked what she would take away from her DWTS experience after she was eliminated. In response to that probing question, Anna simply remarked, “Nothing.”

After many people were shocked by Anna’s response, some people defended her. The current hosts of Dancing with the Stars, Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianna Hough, were two of the people who defended Anna’s remarks.

The interesting thing about Julianne and Alfonso defending Anna’s controversial comments is they had different takes on the subject.

When Julianne spoke to People, she claimed that Anna was likely upset to be eliminated so quickly.

“I’m always a big believer in grace and second chances and showing up. Also, it’s hard to go out first in the competition.”

Julianne then went on to defend Anna further by stating that people may not have the full context for the remarks she made.

While speaking to People, Julianne questioned whether fans should take Anna’s remarks at face value.

In September 2024, Anna Delvey made an appearance on
Tori Spelling’s “misSPELLING” podcast
after they both were eliminated from
Dancing with the Stars
. During their conversation, Anna explained she said she learned “Nothing” from
Dancing With The Stars
because she felt misled. “You guys told me what I’m supposed to do. I tried to do it, and then I still was rejected. And, I’m taking away nothing. This is what I’m taking away from it, because your advice was worthless,” she said.

Julianne then told People that Anna’s controversial past may have explained how she reacted to her elimination.

I also heard somewhere that she was actually being silly and being very literal about that, with her history. So there was that.

Unlike Julianne, Alfonso Ribeiro seemed to take Anna’s comment at face value. Despite that, Alfonso still didn’t hesitate to defend Anna’s remark.

In addition to Anna Delvey joining the cast of
Dancing with the Stars
, there have been plans for her to be involved with another reality show. In February 2022,

Town & Country

reported that Anna signed a deal to star in a reality show about her life after prison.

In September 2024, Alfonso made an appearance on The Talk as can be seen in a YouTube upload of the segment.

During the resulting conversation, Alfonso stated that he believed that Anna’s remark was an accurate reflection of how DWTS felt for her.

It was an honest answer. Like, ‘What [is Anna] going to take away from this?’ Hurt, pain, suffering.

Given that Alfonso is the host of Dancing With The Stars, it may seem shocking he would say that is what someone would take away from the show. As Alfonso explained, however, he wasn’t saying something he believed reflected on Dancing With The Stars in general.

What Alfonso was talking about while referencing the pain that Anna suffered was the fan backlash her casting inspired.

In September 2024,

Newsweek

published an article about the anger over Anna Delvey joining
Dancing with the Stars’
cast. That article quoted an X/Twitter post that summarized how fans were reacting to Anna’s casting. “This next celebrity is scamming her way on to the dance floor. Here to show her dancing abilities are no fraud, it’s Anna Delvey and [partner]!”

During his appearance on The Talk, Alfonso described how fans reacted to Anna’s casting and how that was reflected in her comment about her elimination.

“For her and her journey … it’s really difficult in that situation, because you’re being told, ‘Bye. You stink, you’re not good enough, we don’t want you here. And at the end of the day, like, you have to react to that.”

Since Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro host Dancing With The Stars, they were always going to be asked about Anna Delvey’s comment. However, another one of the show’s stars, judge Carrie Ann Inaba, also spoke out on the subject.

In September 2024, Carrie spoke to Entertainment Weekly about Anna’s comments. Unlike the show’s host, Carrie quickly made it very clear that she wasn’t happy with Anna’s remark.

Carrie began to respond to what Anna said by describing how she initially reacted to what the eliminated competitor said.

“As for Anna, I was taken aback by her comment when asked what she learned from being on the show, and she flatly said, ‘Nothing.'”

Carrie then explained to Entertainment Weeklywhy she found Anna’s comment to be disrespectful. Carrie also told the outlet she believed Anna would have been embraced more by fans if she took her elimination with grace.

“That was dismissive not only of the opportunity she was given, of her wonderful and supportive partner Ezra in his debut season, but also of all of us who work on the show, from the dancers to behind the scenes to the creative team. We all put in the effort to give her a fair opportunity. But I don’t think she could see that and it’s a shame. A little gratitude could have changed the narrative.”

Based on how seriously they all take the art of dance, it seems likely that Dancing With The Stars’ other judges would agree with Carrie.