Abby Lee Miller And Maddie Ziegler: A Complicated Relationship After Dance Moms

Abby Lee Miller and Maddie Ziegler’s relationship remains strained even six years after Maddie left the reality show Dance Moms. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Abby Lee, now 57, revealed that Maddie, now 20, will “definitely not” be part of the upcoming version of the show. Abby expressed her sadness, stating that Maddie “absolutely wants nothing to do with me.” It's a stark contrast to the close ties they once shared, as Abby is currently working on a new iteration of the popular series, promising that fans will still see familiar faces, including another former star, JoJo Siwa, who Abby said could “absolutely” make an appearance.

Many fans of Dance Moms remember Maddie as one of the standout stars of the series. After leaving in 2016, she leveraged her fame to pursue various opportunities in modeling, writing, and acting. Maddie has starred in projects like Sia’s film Music and Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story. Her successful career, however, came with the cost of her relationship with Abby, which has seemingly deteriorated over the years.

Reflecting on her departure, Maddie recalled how upset Abby was when she announced she would leave the show. In a June 2022 interview with Cosmopolitan, she explained, “She trained me, she helped me, but also, I knew I would be okay without her and I was sick of being in a toxic environment.” Maddie stated that she hasn’t spoken to Abby since her exit, but she feels at peace with her decision.

In that same interview, Maddie disclosed that she had contemplated leaving the show for three seasons before finally making the leap. “When you’re in a contract, it’s really hard. Eventually, I finally got out,” she shared. The drama of the show had become overwhelming, leading her to realize how peaceful life outside of that environment could be.

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Abby Lee has expressed her heartbreak over Maddie’s comments, saying, “Spending hours, days, weeks, and years together in a crazy reality TV show environment, we became like family.” Now, Abby is focused on creating a new version of Dance Moms, which she claims will offer something fresh and exciting for viewers. She revealed to ET, “This is all new. It’s classic Abby Lee Miller, but there are little ones and their moms, and the talent is nuts.”

As the landscape of reality television continues to evolve, the stories of figures like Abby and Maddie remind us of the personal toll these experiences can take. Their journey highlights the challenges of navigating fame, personal relationships, and the impact of a highly publicized career.