Abby Lee Miller Addresses Maddie Ziegler’s Dance Moms Criticism

Maddie also said in her interview that while on Dance Moms, “We also weren’t allowed to watch our competitors or be friends with them.” Abby said that she did indeed tell her students not to observe their competitors dancing, in a bid to avoid psyching themselves out, giving themselves “false hope” or becoming fearful about performing. But she denied telling them to avoid being friends with anyone. 

The dance studio director, who also helped train JoJo Siwa, clarified her intentions in her video. “I was fighting for everything for these kids to be the best that they could be on television,” she said. “And as far as the pressure to win, I was putting my name out there on television.”

Abby added, “I was risking my studio and the reputation and all the kids that came before those kids you know [on Dance Moms]. There were lots of great kids before them and there’s been lots of great kids after them. I have some stars right now out there, competing. Do they always win? No. Do I want them to win? Yes. Do they want to win? Yes. And I’m doing everything in my power to help them.”

In her YouTube video, she also praised Maddie’s “amazing” Cosmopolitan cover, which shows her wearing a scarlet Carolina Herrera tulle dress with blush floral accents. “Red,” Abby said. “Red looks good on every kid, for costumes, for stage. Red’s the way to go.”

E! News has reached out to Maddie’s rep for comment but hasn’t heard back.