Fans Discuss Tori Spelling and Anna Delvey’s Return to ‘DWTS’ Season Finale, Saying One of Them ‘Didn’t Deserve’ to Come Back

Anna Delvey made a dramatic return to the stage during the “Dancing with the Stars” Season 33 finale, despite being the first contestant eliminated. The 33-year-old, known for her controversial past, joined her dance partner Ezra Sosa for the November, 26 event.

The duo performed alongside Tori Spelling and Pasha Pashkov to Whitney Houston’s classic “I Have Nothing,” in what seemed like a nod to Delvey’s own parting words when she said she was taking nothing away from the show.

Making an entrance, Delvey was carried onto the stage, lip-syncing to the ballad before their routine came to an abrupt end. The performance sparked mixed reactions among viewers, with Delvey attracting significant criticism.

One user on X wrote, “They did so good. I wish they would not have let the jailbird back, but I feel bad for Tori Spelling. She should have had a moment on her own without the other one.” Another shared, “Ughh, nothing didn’t deserve to be there. Tori looked great.” Some viewers took issue with the dynamics between Delvey and the rest of the cast.

“Why did they even bring that girl back with her nasty attitude?!?! [sic] Obviously Julianne doesn’t like her cause why did Ezra switch places with Anna!!! And you can tell by Julianne’s facial expression she wasn’t playing! 😂😂😂,” wrote one commenter.

Another added, “Did we really need to bring Anna back tho [sic]? She makes everything awkward with her bad attitude and psycho personality 🙄.” The chatter didn’t stop there, as more viewers took to social media to share their thoughts on Delvey’s unexpected return.

“She just needs to go,” one person bluntly wrote, while another echoed, “Yep, still can’t understand what anyone sees in Anna.” Delvey’s earlier elimination comment and her presence in the finale seemed to frustrate many. “I believe Anna should have NEVER been a contestant!” declared one viewer.

Another questioned, “Why give her a special part in the finale when she clearly didn’t care about the show at all?” Someone else echoed similar sentiments asking, “Why are we giving Anna Delvey lots of exposure tonight, c’mon [sic]!”

The decision to have Delvey perform Houston’s song also drew criticism. “Having that jailbird dance to a beautiful Whitney Houston song was a disgrace,” one person stated.

Some fans were left puzzled. “I thought Anna was banned from coming back,” a confused user wrote. Others didn’t hold back. “And she did a whole lot more of nothing [sic],” someone else remarked.

Many viewers even sympathized with Spelling for having to share the stage with Delvey during the finale. “Tori should have refused to dance anywhere near Anna,” one comment read. Another user praised Spelling, writing, “Tori is a sweetheart. She should’ve stayed in the show longer.”

Fans continued to express their disappointment over Spelling’s early exit from the competition. “Tori was robbed,” declared one commenter, while another posted, “@torispelling deserved to stay on #DWTS much, much longer.”

Before the finale, Spelling teased her return to “DWTS” in a series of enthusiastic social media posts. Sharing a photo with fellow contestants, she captioned it, “Back Where I Belong… reunited and it feels so good. The finale of @dancingwiththestars season 33 is going to be EPIC! 💃♥️.”

In another playful post, she shared a video and wrote, “Rejection never looked so hot! 🤭.” Keeping the excitement alive, Spelling later posted a series of photos featuring her dance partner, Pashkov, captioned, “One final dance… @pashapashkov it’s been an honor and a pleasure, my friend. But, it ain’t over till we do a proper lift. LIFT ME BABY!”

Both Spelling and Delvey were eliminated during the same episode earlier in the season. On the official “DWTS” Instagram page, two separate posts bid farewell to the duo.

For Delvey, they wrote, “Their journey was cut short, but their partnership will forever be iconic! We’re sad to say goodbye to Anna and Ezra. ❤️ #OscarsNight #DWTS.”

Meanwhile, Spelling received a heartfelt send-off, “Last night we said goodbye to Tori and Pasha. 🫶🏼 It was an absolute joy seeing the energy you brought to the #DWTS ballroom.”

Spelling was eliminated on Week 2 of the show. At the time, the actress and her pro partner, Pashkov, performed a heartfelt rumba to “This Is Me” from “The Greatest Showman.”

While their routine earned a respectable 19 out of 30, bringing their two-week total to 36, it wasn’t enough to keep Spelling in the competition. Her elimination sent shockwaves through the audience, leaving fans divided.

Reactions were swift, with one fan bluntly stating, “I feel bad for Pasha but I’m not shocked Tori went home.” The fan continued by pointing out that though many people from Spelling’s generation are familiar with her and have followed her career over the years, her reputation isn’t exactly favorable.

Others weren’t surprised either, with one commenter noting, “She’s not one of the popular or well-loved 90210 actors.” Another added, “My Gen X mother said something similar about Tori and people not liking her.”

However, Spelling’s departure wasn’t met with unanimous approval. One fan voiced their dismay, “She deserved to stay! I’m still in shock!” Another shared the same sentiment, writing, “I can’t believe she was voted out. She deserved a few more weeks.”

Despite the debate over her elimination Spelling embraced her departure with a positive outlook. She shared that she has been a long-time fan of the show, admitting that for years, she wasn’t sure if joining was even a possibility and that the idea initially terrified her. At 51, Spelling confessed that a part of her wondered why she hadn’t joined sooner.

Nevertheless, she emphasized her belief that everything happens for a reason and that her experience unfolded exactly as it was meant to. Despite the brevity of her time on the show, she described it as incredible.

“It’s been an unbelievable journey. I understand it was short but the transformation in me internally and externally has been huge in two weeks,” she said.

While Spelling took her elimination positively, Delvey’s elimination was met with criticism. On Tuesday, September 24, Delvey and Sosa, performed a Quickstep to KT Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See,” a track featured in “The Devil Wears Prada.” The performance was part of the show’s highly anticipated Oscars Night.

However, the two-hour episode ended in disappointment for Delvey and her partner, as they were eliminated in a double-elimination round.

The host, Alfonso Ribeiro, and co-host, Julianne Hough, announced that the pair, along with Spelling and Pasha Pashkov, had received the lowest combined scores from the judges and viewer votes.

Despite Delvey’s efforts, her performance seemed to lack the spark expected from a show known for its energetic and vibrant routines. Her presence on the show was met with widespread outrage online, as viewers expressed frustration over her demeanor and performance.

One user shared their thoughts, “It seems like she doesn’t want to be there. All the other contestants seem to have a lot more enthusiasm than her, even if they’re not the smoothest dancers. At least convince us that you’re here for a reason!”

Another fan echoed the sentiment, saying, “That was painful to watch. You can see that Ezra is trying so hard but she just looks like she [doesn’t] wanna be there. Hope she is eliminated tonight!!”

After the elimination, many viewers expressed relief, with one writing, “So glad Anna was sent home. What an awful attitude!!!” Another user added, “No, very emotionless.”

However, not all the feedback was negative. A supporter of Delvey commented, “I enjoyed it. Not everyone has to pretend to be americas sweet heart and make it seem like life is perfect and be all smiles. I enjoy her [sic].”

Following her departure, Delvey admitted that she was “very sad” to leave the competition. Despite the backlash, her partner, Sosa, spoke positively about their time together.

He noted that although their journey on “Dancing with the Stars” ended sooner than they had hoped, it was rewarding to see Delvey open up and perform with grace. He described her time on the dance floor as a potential redemption for the reality star, allowing her to step into a different spotlight.