Maks Chmerkovskiy didn’t hold back when discussing the controversial casting of convicted felon Anna Delvey on Dancing With the Stars (DWTS). In a recent appearance on the “TMZ Podcast” (Monday, September 23), the 44-year-old pro dancer shared his thoughts on how the show casts its 13 celebrities each season, from older icons to rising stars. However, Delvey’s inclusion in the current season sparked a strong reaction.
Chmerkovskiy acknowledged that Delvey, 33, fit the attention-grabbing archetype, but questioned the decision to give her such a platform. “You want an ankle bracelet, some scandalousness – there are so many other people you could choose from,” he said. When asked if he supported Delvey’s involvement, Chmerkovskiy was blunt: “Absolutely not.”
He criticized Delvey’s lackluster cha-cha routine, where she danced wearing a bedazzled ankle monitor, calling her performance “not great” and noting her “standoffish” demeanor. While some excused her performance as nerves, Chmerkovskiy wasn’t convinced: “She conned people and presented herself a certain way before. I don’t buy this nervous act. She’s a bad dancer and her personality won’t help her.”
Delvey, who was arrested in 2017 for grand larceny and theft, became widely known after Inventing Anna, a Netflix series based on her story. She was released from prison in 2021 and placed under house arrest for overstaying her visa.
Chmerkovskiy didn’t seem interested in how far Delvey would go in the competition, saying, “She’s not someone I tune in to watch.” Meanwhile, Delvey’s dance partner, newcomer Ezra Sosa, defended their approach on the “Lightweights” podcast, saying they had no choice but to lean into Delvey’s story.
Despite the backlash, Sosa and Delvey were unfazed by the crowd’s reaction during their debut performance, explaining that once on the dance floor, it was just the two of them.
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Episodes can also be streamed the next day on Hulu and Disney+.