Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 20, 2025 · Entertainment

Anna Delvey Turns 'Bunnygate' Scandal into Trending Merch: A Sardonic Spin on Controversy

Anna Delvey, seen here in July, is selling 'Bunnygate' merch after she was accused of dumping rabbits in Brooklyn following a photo shoot last week

SCANDALOUS ANNA DELVEY TURNS 'BUNNYGATE' INTO A CASH-COW WITH SHOCKING NEW MERCH

In a brazen move, Anna Delvey, the notorious socialite and convicted con artist, has turned her recent scandal into a lucrative business opportunity. The 34-year-old Russian native, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, has launched a merchandise line featuring "Bunnygate" tees, with 20% of the proceeds going to an animal welfare non-profit.

But this isn't just about philanthropy - it's also a clever PR move by Delvey to deflect attention from her own dubious past. As we all know, she was embroiled in controversy last week after two adorable bunnies she used in a photo shoot were found abandoned in a New York park. The incident sparked outrage on social media, with many calling for Delvey's head.

She seems to be poking fun at the incident while trying to make a difference, as 20 percent of the proceeds going to a non-profit that protects animals

However, in a stunning twist, Delvey claimed that she had no knowledge of how the bunnies were obtained for the shoot and promptly passed the buck to her 19-year-old assistant, Christian Batty. In a subsequent statement, Batty confessed to sourcing the animals from Facebook Marketplace and releasing them in Prospect Park without Delvey's approval.

But now, it seems that Delvey is having the last laugh - or at least, making a pretty penny off the incident. Her Instagram post showcasing the "Missing" tees, complete with a picture of one of the adorable bunnies, has sent shockwaves through social media. The caption reads: "The scandal they couldn’t stop talking about, now on a shirt that demands what the law doesn’t: accountability for abandoned animals."

Delvey's fans are eating it up, snapping up the limited-edition tees and flaunting their outrage online with hashtags #Bunnygate and #AccountabilityForAnimals. But is this just a clever marketing ploy or a genuine attempt to make amends?

According to Change.org, a petition linked in Delvey's Instagram bio calls for making it "illegal to abandon domestic animals in public spaces." The petition, which has garnered thousands of signatures, reads: "Right now, in many places, abandoning a pet is barely treated as a crime, if it’s enforced at all. That needs to change."

It seems that Delvey is using this incident as an opportunity to position herself as a champion for animal welfare - but some are skeptical about her motives. After all, she's been accused of exploiting vulnerable individuals and institutions in the past.

The rabbit incident has also sparked a wider conversation about animal abandonment and the lack of accountability for pet owners who dump their animals in public spaces. As one Reddit user pointed out: "It's not just Delvey - it's a symptom of a bigger problem. We need stronger laws to protect animals from being abandoned by their owners."

Delvey's statement, re-posted on her Instagram, reads in part: "I am highly disturbed by what transpired... As talent, it’s not my job to source or return animals, but as an animal lover, I can promise I will never work with them again without knowing exactly where they came from and how they're getting home."

Whether this is a genuine expression of concern for animal welfare or just another calculated move by Delvey to salvage her reputation remains to be seen. One thing's for sure - she's certainly milking the "Bunnygate" scandal for all it's worth.

TheScholarlyNote.com

Sources:

  • Change.org petition
  • Instagram post by Anna Delvey