Anna Delvey has denied claims she dumped rabbits used in one of her photoshoots.
Delvey, dubbed the "fake heiress", was convicted in 2019 on multiple counts of larceny and theft after falsely building a reputation as a wealthy German socialite.
There has been an internet storm over the past few days following claims Delvey ditched bunnies used in a photoshoot in Prospect Park, New York.
In the picture, captured by photographer Jasper Soloff, Delvey has her signature ankle tag on display – and is seen with two bunnies on a leash.
After Delvey posted the picture online, animal rescuer Terry Chao said she recognised the rabbits as the same ones she had rescued earlier that week.
Responding to the furore, Delvey claimed her assistant, Christian Batty, told her he knew someone who “could lend us bunnies for a few hours” and supplied the animals.
Delvey wrote on her Instagram story: “I later discovered that, instead of borrowing animals from a legitimate source like he claimed, he had obtained them via Facebook Marketplace and intended to release them into Prospect Park, a plan of which I had no knowledge.
“The idea that someone would compromise the well-being of innocent animals for personal networking opportunities is deeply disturbing to me.”
She added: “I do not eat meat, and I had no involvement in the acquisition, transport, or return of these animals. I would never condone these actions.”
She also posted a screenshot of a $1,000 donation to a rabbit rescue charity.
In a since-deleted Instagram post, which appeared to be written by Batty, the assistant reportedly said: “When I realized the rabbits were being surrendered to me, I panicked.
“At 19, with no experience caring for animals, no pet-friendly housing, and no knowledge of available resources, I felt overwhelmed and made the worst possible choice. Believing, mistakenly, that there were existing rabbits in that area, I released them there, thinking that was my best option.”
The photographer Jasper Soloff also spoke out through his lawyer, Gary Adelman, telling Page Six: “This was not Jasper’s photoshoot. Jasper had no knowledge or input as to how the bunnies were obtained or what happened to them after the photo shoot.
“Thankfully the bunnies are safe and being cared for. Jaspar is a huge animal lover, has grown up and cared for animals, such as birds, cats, dogs, parakeets, iguanas, and has a lovely dog named Tinkerbell and would never be involved in the harming of any animal.”
