The former Vanity Fair photo editor allegedly duped by ex-pal faux heiress Anna Sorokin burst into tears Thursday as a defense lawyer grilled her over the $600,000 book and TV deal she inked about her ordeal.
Sorokin, a 28-year-old accused social grifter, is on trial for a series of frauds, including inviting Rachel Williams on an all-expenses-paid trip to Morocco then allegedly sticking her with the $70,000 bill.
Defense lawyer Todd Spodek repeatedly asked Williams, 31, whether she’d capitalized on Sorokin’s alleged crimes.
“You stand to make potentially $635,000, not to mention the $1,300 from the article — that doesn’t interest you?” asked Spodek incredulously, as several jurors smirked during Sorokin’s larceny trial in Manhattan Supreme Court.
A tearful Williams responded, “This is the most traumatic thing I’ve ever been through” as she broke down in sobs.
“I wish I had never met Anna. If I could go back in time and not be where I am today, you bet I would,” Williams said.
The former photo editor had written a first-person narrative about her friendship with Sorokin for Vanity Fair and got $1,300. Then, she testified, she sold her story to HBO for what could amount to more than $335,000 and to Simon & Schuster for $300,000.
She admitted that she had lobbied the court to bar questions about the profits when she took the stand.
“I didn’t want my trial or my testimony to be misconstrued as something to better myself,” Williams said.
Earlier in the day, Spodek pressed Williams about why she wrote about Sorokin’s arrest in California in her 6,700-word Vanity Fair article but failed to mention that she’d supposedly set her up.
Under the guidance of the NYPD, Williams arranged a lunch date with Sorokin, and, the moment the fake heiress arrived, authorities swooped in to nab her.
“I didn’t feel the amount of space of the article provided was enough space to tell the whole story,” Williams said defensively.
Spodek highlighted a series of red flags that suggested Sorokin, who went by Anna Delvey, wasn’t the German heiress worth 60 million euros she claimed to be — questioning why Williams wouldn’t have seen them, as well.
He suggested that Williams ignored these warning signings because she was so eager to stay in La Mamounia’s $7,000-a-night suite, which included a private butler and swimming pool.
Sorokin had asked Williams to book the $4,500 airfare for the four travelers, but her card was declined. Williams paid.
Once they got to the airport, Sorokin claimed she’d accidentally checked her wallet, and Williams ended up footing the bill for baggage fees and meals.
Sorokin is accused of ripping off $275,000 from businesses, hotels and friends and trying to score a $22 million bank loan to start a private art club.