Dancing with the Stars pro DEFENDS Anna Delvey - but reveals key reason why fake heiress could miss...

Cheryl Burke, a former professional dancer on Dancing With The Stars, has emphasized that Anna Delvey, a contestant who has stirred up some controversy, should be given a fair shot on the show. However, Delvey’s ankle monitor and perceived lack of genuineness might hinder her chances of winning the coveted mirror ball trophy.

Viewers were shocked to see a well-known criminal, aged 33, who had swindled people out of $275,000, included in the lineup for Season 33. This revelation has sparked calls for a boycott of the cherished ABC show.

Cheryl, a former professional dancer now hosting a podcast, has suggested that audiences should overlook Anna's past misdeeds and focus instead on assessing her 'potential as a ballroom dancer.'

After the fraudster's first appearance on Tuesday night, where she showed off her glittery ankle monitor, Cheryl spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com, stating: "There’s a lot of criticism aimed at Anna. What has happened is in the past; she’s part of season 33, and it wasn’t our choice but rather the show's decision."

That being said, everyone should have an opportunity. I share the view of [judge Carrie Ann Inaba] that we need to assess whether she has promise as a ballroom dancer—and honestly, I believe she does.

Cheryl Burke, a former professional dancer from Dancing With The Stars, has argued that the contentious contestant Anna Delvey should be given a fair opportunity to compete on the show.

Anna performed a dance to "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter with her partner, professional dancer Ezra Sousa, earning three consistent sixes and achieving a total score of 18 points.

However, the crowd's applause for Anna was clearly not as enthusiastic as that for her rivals.

"Sadly for her, this isn't only about dancing," Cheryl explained. "In this competition, being open and honest is crucial. Those who are ready to be completely genuine and vulnerable are the ones who will truly thrive, regardless of their dance skills. That aspect is even more significant than the dancing itself."

I have to admit, I still hope she'll open up more, but with what I've seen, it's tough to feel sympathy for someone who won't even acknowledge her own emotions. It’s challenging to be understanding toward someone who lacks compassion for themselves and for those around them.

The host of Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans mentioned that this might be a significant factor in why Anna might not win the prestigious glitter ball trophy.

"It's not only about repaying the money; it's also about the individuals she impacted and the harm caused to their mental well-being," she stated.

She's presenting it as if it's just a business deal, but emotions are involved. Everyone has feelings, whether or not they choose to express them.

I believe we're overlooking the personal aspect of Anna Delvey. She needs to be more open about herself. Honestly, I don't have much else to add, aside from the fact that she has promise, but she must connect with her humanity. It's important for her to express whatever feelings she has.

Fans have criticized Dancing With the Stars for featuring a 'criminal' in the current season, as the 33-year-old scam artist took to the stage wearing a sparkly ankle bracelet.

The judges scored her with sixes across the board for her performance, totaling 18 points. However, the audience's excitement while cheering for her didn't quite match the enthusiasm they showed for other participants.

Cheryl joked, "Perhaps you could provide answers that are a bit more detailed instead of just a few words. I'm finding it difficult to understand her."

The two-time champion of the dance competition also said that Anna's ankle monitor is holding her back from showcasing her talent on the dance floor.

While she was performing, Anna was seen wearing a glittery ankle monitor, which Cheryl argues is hindering her ability to dance.

"It can really impact her performance since it disrupts her balance. She's leaning to one side, which isn't beneficial," she explained. "They should distribute the weight evenly to the other foot. I noticed she was tilting to the left."

Anna, also known as Anna Sorokin, spent several years pretending to be a rich heiress while scamming various banks, hotels, and people out of $275,000.

In 2017, she was taken into custody and convicted of major theft, second-degree theft, and illegally obtaining services.

Her tale served as the inspiration for the hugely popular Netflix series, Inventing Anna, featuring performances by Anna Chlumsky, Julia Garner, and Arian Moayed.

She also recently revealed that she will be featured in an upcoming reality show called Traits, where participants have to use strategies like deception and lying while keeping their true selves hidden.

She was let out of prison in February 2021, but soon after, immigration officials detained her, arguing that she had stayed past the expiration of her visa and needed to be sent back to Germany, her home country.

The real-life inspiration for "Inventing Anna" was held by ICE for more than a year. In October 2022, a judge allowed her to move into home confinement as she battles her deportation case.

The host of Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans mentioned that Anna should be more expressive and share her feelings if she wants a chance to win the mirror ball trophy.

Anna gained notoriety for pretending to be a rich heiress for several years, deceiving multiple banks, hotels, and people to amass $275,000. (She is seen during her sentencing in 2019.)

Her release conditions needed to be changed so she could travel from New York to Los Angeles for the filming of the dance show.

Anna has expressed her hope that the audience will show some understanding in light of her past legal troubles.

The iHeartRadio podcast titled "Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans" can be streamed on all platforms.

Nonetheless, the posts on social media after her initial dance were predominantly filled with upset reactions regarding her involvement in the competition.

"She's a complete criminal," expressed an irate user on X, previously known as Twitter.

"I can't believe Dancing With the Stars let this nonsense onto their renowned stage," commented another person. "And her dancing is just not impressive."

"I don't understand why we're giving Anna Sorokin attention for her negative actions. It seems like we're just catering to this obviously troubled person by providing her with the fame and platform she desires," remarked another viewer.

One person described her performance as 'uninspiring,' while another remarked that it 'drained all the excitement and joy from the room.'

"One viewer humorously asked if Anna Delvey could be charged with a different offense for her completely expressionless dance."

"One person commented that Anna comes across as a soulless machine."

"Dancing with the Stars" is set to come back next Tuesday on ABC. You can also listen to the iHeartRadio podcast, "Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans," which is available for streaming on all platforms.