‘DWTS’: Anna Delvey Casting a Misstep in Show’s History of Polarizing Celeb Choices
Dancing with the Stars has a history of polarizing casting choices. Throughout 33 seasons, the ABC series has made questionable decisions when signing certain celebrities. Adding con artist Anna Delvey to the cast this season appears to be a misstep. Is the show sacrificing its lighthearted premise to drive ratings?
Anna Delvey: Another example of ‘DWTS’ polarizing casting
Anna Delvey is best known as a con artist. She was posed as a German heiress and swindled over $200K from banks, hotels, and unsuspecting individuals. The Netflix series Inventing Anna documented Delvey’s story. She was subsequently convicted, and remains under house arrest.
Delvey’s casting was revealed on Good Morning America. She is paired with newbie pro Ezra Sosa.
The shocking addition of the convicted felon is another instance where the show has used polarizing casting. Delvey may be the first contestant to wear an ankle monitor, but she’s not the only casting choice that left fans scratching their heads.
In season 11, Bristol Palin, daughter of former Alaska Governor and 2008 VP hopeful Sarah Palin, was added to the celebrity cast of DWTS. Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay joined season 9 to rebuild his reputation after promoting conspiracy theories about former president Barack Obama.
Once-beloved Food Network star Paula Deen entered the ballroom in season 21, trying to redeem her reputation after reportedly using racial slurs toward employees at her restaurants. Conservative talk show host Tucker Carlson hit the dance floor in season 3.
Season 10 saw the debut of embattled TLC reality star Kate Gosselin. During season 26, ice skating superstar Tonya Harding was cast after pleading guilty years earlier to conspiracy after an attack on her fellow U.S. skating rival Nancy Kerrigan. Tiger King star Carole Baskin was another polarizing casting coup in season 29.
One casting choice led to one of the series’ most upsetting goodbyes
In season 28, former White House press secretary Sean Spicer was added to the DWTS cast. Longtime DWTS host, Tom Bergeron, publicly voiced his disapproval of this choice.
Going into the 2020 election year, Bergeron wanted to avoid politics to retain DWTS‘s air of viewer escapist pleasure. However, his opinion was overruled, and Spicer was cast as a celebrity dancer.
In 2023, Bergeron shared his thoughts on casting Spicer to former DWTS pro Cheryl Burke on the podcast Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans. He explained, “I said, ‘Guys, this is exactly what we said we wouldn’t do. Don’t go there. This is, you know, not the right time. Play to our strengths, be the show that gives people a break from all this bulls***.'”
But the show wanted Spicer in the cast. Therefore, Bergeron suggested he “take the season off.” Instead, show executives reportedly offered to let him out of his contract. “That’s how strongly they felt,” Bergeron added.
Bergeron hosted Dancing with the Stars from Seasons 1 to 28 for 15 years. He announced his exit in a 2020 tweet.
‘DWTS’ has a history of redemption arcs for its celebrity competitors
In what seems like a rinse and repeat of previous seasons, casting Anna Delvey will likely drive some new viewers to the series. But, it’s all about how she presents herself in filmed packages before her first dance and in interviews afterward that could make or break her time on the series.
While curiosity is involved in voting for Delvey, that will quickly be pushed aside if she doesn’t learn the dances and acts humbled to be a cast member. She must take this seriously if she considers her time on DWTS part of a life redemption arc and has a chance to win a mirrorball.
Dancing with the Stars season 33 debuts beginning September 17 at 8 p.m. ET. The series airs simultaneously on ABC and Disney Plus, and the next day on Hulu.
