‘DWTS’ Cast Reacts to Anna Delvey’s Controversial ‘Nothing’ Exit Comment: Carrie Ann Inaba and More

ALFONSO RIBEIRO

The DWTS cohost had some empathy for Anna. “All I have to tell you is, live is live,” he said during the Wednesday, September 25, episode of The Talk. “And it can be scary when it’s live.”

He admitted that nobody was “expecting” Anna’s “nothing” response, but said, “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. It was an honest answer. Like, ‘What am I going to take away from this? Hurt, pain, suffering?’”

JULIANNE HOUGH

Julianne posted a video clip of the controversial moment on Instagram and simply captioned it, “There you have it….. ICONIC.” 

CARRIE ANN INABA

Carrie Ann, who has been a judge on DWTS since season 1, told Entertainment Weekly that she was “taken aback” by Anna’s comment.

“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,” she added. “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.”

ALAN BERSTEN

“Anna plays that very stern character,” Alan Bersten laughed in his interview with Extra. “I think she will miss it. I think Ezra was a great partner to her. This show is so special no matter what.”

EZRA SOSA

“I knew she was going to say something very iconic and something very ‘Anna Delvey’ with her exit,” Anna’s dance partner told Extra. “Of course, she has to. It’s very typical. We would expect nothing less of her.”

He also said Anna is “incredibly sweet” and “really misunderstood,” adding, “I think the people who kind of treat her as Anna Delvey … she kind of feels the need to portray that to them. But whenever I was dancing and teaching her, I really tried my best to see her for the person she is outside of that persona and she really is so lovely.”

JENNA JOHNSON

The DWTS pro, who’s paired with Joey Graziadei for season 33, told Extra, “I admire her for showing up and even trying it, um, but … yeah. Different outtake.”

VAL CHMERKOVSKIY

“I think this is a very gracious nation. I think it’s a very gracious cast and everybody deserves love, but love needs to be reciprocated,” the season 33 pro said to Extra. “So if that’s what was said, I don’t think that’s fair to her professional partner and the community that welcomed her. I’m sure there’s a phrase for it, [like], ‘It’s not up to me to judge.’”

STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK

The Olympic gymnast is one of Anna’s fellow season 33 competitors and admitted that he watched the TV series about her years before they met.

“Being able to meet her in person, she’s really kind and I think she really did give this her all, despite, maybe, what she puts out there,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “I really do like her and I feel bad that she got kicked off.”

CHERYL BURKE

Cheryl, who previously served as a pro dancer on DWTS, told Variety, “I believe that the feeling is mutual from the fans of the show.”