Abby Lee Miller Calls Former ‘Dance Moms’ Stars “Ungrateful” for Criticizing Show

Abby Lee Miller has criticized former “Dance Moms” cast members who have spoken negatively about the reality show and their experiences on it.

In a recent interview with KTLA, Miller said she believes some former dancers are “very ungrateful” and should recognize how much the show and her dance studio contributed to their careers.

“They would not be where they are today without the show,” Miller said. She also argued that some of the dancers would not have achieved their success without her training at the Abby Lee Dance Company in Pittsburgh.

Miller did not name specific cast members, but her comments come as former stars have discussed the difficult parts of their time on “Dance Moms.” The Lifetime series, which ran from 2011 to 2017 with later seasons, became known for Miller’s demanding teaching style and conflicts with dancers and their mothers.

Nia Sioux, one of the original cast members, has been particularly open about her experience. In her 2025 memoir, “Bottom of the Pyramid,” Sioux described challenges she faced while filming the show, including experiences related to being the only Black dancer at certain points.

Sioux has said those experiences had lasting effects and that she wanted to share her story to highlight the experiences of dancers of color.

Despite the criticism, Miller maintains that “Dance Moms” and her training played an important role in helping the dancers build successful careers.