Maddie Ziegler On Her Relationship With 'Dance Moms' Coach Abby Lee Miller | People NOW | People

Maddie Ziegler reveals if she will ever go back to competitive dance and dishes on her relationship with "Dance Moms" coach Abby Lee: "I had the craziest time when i was with her."

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Maddie Ziegler On Her Relationship With 'Dance Moms' Coach Abby Lee Miller | People NOW | People

[yamig]

Abby and Maddie's relationship was not a healthy one and I'm surprised people pretend like it was. She constantly tried to turn Maddie against her friends and even her own mom as a young child. Tried to make Maddie believe she was the only person who cared about her well being. Abby kept trying to use Maddie even after she left the show. The Zieglers are not on good terms with Abby at the moment so I don't blame them for keeping their distance.

[grace]

Maddie is very mature child for her age, with a kind heart and huge talent. She did right thing when she left that abusive show. Now she is doing million better things. Much love and respect to this young girl.

[mariaviudez]

She is getting so gorgeous. She always was, but she is growing into her face.

[akalaotinanai]

What y'all need to understand is that just because Abby "made" Maddie, it doesn't erase the fact that that women is extremely toxic to those children. All of them, including Maddie. Maddie didn't even sign up for this, she was 8. Her mom made the decision to put her in the spotlight, and an 8 year old child shouldn't have to decide whether to stay in a toxic environment (that, on top of all, is televised) or whether to go against her mom's and teacher's wishes and leave.
Abby was ruining Maddie, she was teaching her to be arrogant and selfish, she was constantly telling her that she had to win, and like Maddie said, an eleven year old just shouldn't have to worry so much.
So yeah, Abby did promote her a lot and helped her get where she is now and Maddie knows it. But Abby also stressed her out, put her in very difficult situations, and drilled her to be cocky and insufferable.
I think that Maddie can see now what a horrible influence Abby had on her and the other girls and I don't see why she should appreciate that.
Sia also was a turning point for Maddie, because she went from having a mentor that was negative, stressful and crooked to a mentor that is positive, uplifting, wise and fun.
Sia made Maddie realize that life should be simpler at this age, and art should be FUN, not ARROGANT.
So no, Maddie doesn't owe Abby ANYTHING. On the contrary, if I was her I would diss her even more so that people see that even those who seem to favoured, are still affected by negative behavior and toxicity. Just in different ways than those who are "abused". (Chloe that is)

Edit: WOW I really didn't expect this comment to get so many likes, I was clearly very passionate about the subject when I posted it lol
I am so glad that so many people get the point and can see how toxic their relationship actually was.

[YenellyT]

She's grateful and she realizes that Abby and the show made her famous. But she realized how competing and stress and being under pressure was not a good thing and she moved on from that, it doesn't make her ungrateful really. She has it good now and is doing amazing things and she's loving it that's all.

[lolliecandy]

We don't know the full extent of Maddie & Abby's relationship, so we cant say if maddie is being ungrateful or dissing her?? Abby is someone who's thrown Maddie's personal family issues into everyone's faces (Melissa's new boyfriend, etc) and you can see how much that hurt her. Yes she trained Maddie but this kid was also under an extreme amount of pressure because if she ever did wrong, she had the moms & social media & abby picking her apart. Just let her move on, she respectfully said she learnt a lot from there but she's obviously a whole lot happier now.

[NaturallyLatrice]

But she didn't say anything bad about Abby. She said competing was stressful and she's happy to not have to live through that. Even on the show you could see Maddie didn't like always feeling like her friends were being put down. As she got older you could tell she was really uncomfortable with it all and it was her decision to no longer compete. I don't think she was bashing Abby just the whole world of competition stressed her.

[sarahdemir]

It amazes me how smart, talented, hard working, sweet and well-spoken Maddie is. Isn't she just 14? This girl is slowly building her empire and nothing can stop her. She has goals and she is working 24/7 for it. Bravo, Maddie!!!

[beestapz]

everyone's calling maddie ungrateful but honestly because of abby she never had a real childhood, she used maddie and tried to turn her against everyone

[sophien.]

Am I the only one who is glad that Maddie isn't close with abby anymore? Like abby is constantly taking credit for maddie's success and just using her for fame. Maddie is much better than that. Also maddie is famous bc of Dance moms, not bc of abby

[Kailalove]

It's really nuts that people are in these comments calling her ungrateful/saying she's disrespecting/dissing Abby. Abby & Maddie's relationship was not normal?? At all?? Abby actively tried to turned Maddie against her friends. She went out of her way to do this. I still remember when she made Maddie cry about that solo thing seasons back. That is manipulative and gross. I'm happy that Maddie seems to now understand that that wasn't healthy. Bravo to her!

[danikameric]

Always classy and sweet, so talented and well-spoken. She knows what she wants and works her butt for it. Much respect for Maddie. You tell them girl!

[malikahotrew]

You can tell how happy Maddie is now that she's moved on from Dance Moms. She was uberly stressed out and such a young age. That's just so crazy lol. I feel for her. She can now just relax and enjoy the rest of her childhood!!!

[guccichanelcoach]

It's true that Abby trained Maddie, and looking back at their old relationship it makes me sad that Maddie is so resentful of the relationship. But Abby did use Maddie for fame, and money...awards in someways and made her feel uncomforable at times in front of the other girls so idk. Good luck to Maddie and congratulations on all of her sucess

[Shaylerbabiexo]

So confused on why everyones saying that Maddie "dissed" Abby? she literally said she learned a lot from Abby but she's done with that part of her life because it was stressful? that's not dissing anybody that's just literally telling the truth? I don't think it's any secret that being on a reality TV show filled with drama is stressful?

[laurenmowry]

So proud of Maddie. Very talented, humble and determined young girl. You have brilliant future ahead.

[dkramf]

It constantly surprises be how malicious people are to a 14 year old girl! Like damn. I know you can have disagreeing opinions, and that is fine, but some of these comments are disgusting. And not only the people who makes the comments, but that so many people like the comment. Are you really such a hateful person. Do you really hate a girl that you have never met in your life so much?

[laceymack]

I'm surprised at the negative comments directed towards Maddie in favor of Abby. Abby creates toxic environments for all of her dancers. She was so manipulative concerning Maddie. Remember how she treated her after all the moms walked out and supported Kelly? Or when she forgot her solo? Or when she left the show? Not to mention all the moments in between and how to tried to pit the girls against one another. Just because she wasn't always yelling at her doesn't mean she wasn't emotionally abusive. Maddie had so much pressure put on her by Abby always expecting perfection and absolute loyalty from her; it strained her relationships with her friends and even led to bullying by some of the other moms.

Abby did not make Maddie--she would have succeeded no matter who she took dance classes from. Maddie was a huge reason Abby's studio was picked for Dance Moms. I'm so glad she's in a better place emotionally. She's matured so much, as a dancer and a person, and I wish her all the best.

[kerogre]

Maddie is smart, nice talented smart kid..

[darlafanning]

So proud of this girl. She finally escaped Dance Moms. Now she can be free of all the stress and crazy moms fighting all the time. She seems much happier now.