Julianne Hough Says ‘It’s Hard to Go Out First’ While Reflecting on Anna Delvey’sDWTSElimination: ‘I’m Very Neutral’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Three days afterAnna DelveywaseliminatedfromDancing with the Stars,Julianne Houghtells PEOPLE she’s staying “very neutral” to Delvey’s terse response.

At the Democracy Heroes event in New York City on Friday, Sept. 27, theDWTSco-host tells PEOPLE what she makes of Delvey’s response to her elimination. The convicted con artist told Hough on this week’s episode that shewould be taking “nothing” away from herexperience.

“I’m always a big believer in grace and second chances and showing up,” Hough, 36, tells PEOPLE. “Also, it’s hard to go out first in the competition.”

(L-R) Julianne Hough, Anna Delvey and Ezra Sosa on “Dancing with the Stars.".Disney/Eric McCandless

Disney/Eric McCandless

Delvy, 33, and her partnerEzra Sosawere eliminated alongsideTori Spellingand her partner Pasha Pashkov.

“I also heard somewhere that she was actually being silly and being very literal about that, with her history,” continues Hough, seemingly referencing Delvey’s controversial past. “So there was that.”

Julianne Hough on August 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, gained notoriety forposing as a wealthy German heiressand using her social standing to defraud wealthy people, banks, and hotels.

She was arrested in 2017, and two years later, she wasconvicted of grand larceny in the first, second and third degreeand theft of services. She was sentenced to four to 12 years in state prison, fined $24,000, and ordered to pay restitution of about $199,000. Her sentence was shortened, and she wasreleased in 2021 for good behavior.

She told PEOPLE before the start of theDWTSseason thatshe “had to request ICE for permission to travel out of state.”

Hough also shared a clip from the show’s Tuesday telecast onInstagramand captioned the post: “There you have it….. ICONIC 🤣☠️.”

Sosa, whohad been promoted to a pro dancer this season, commented in her defense, writing, “I think she was referring to anything you’d be taking away ‘physically.’ "

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Dancing with the Starsairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and can be streamed the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

source: people.com