In a new interview with Cosmopolitan, Kenzie Ziegler recounted her time on Lifetime’s Dance Moms and revealed why she opted not to attend the recent reunion with her former co-stars.
As fans may recall, Kenzie appeared on the reality series with her sister Maddie Ziegler and mom, Melissa Gisoni, from 2011 to 2016. Viewers likely remember the infamous episode in which Melissa broke the news to the girls’ coach, Abby Lee Miller, that Maddie and Kenzie were leaving Abby’s Elite Dance Team, causing Abby to cry for hours and lock herself in an office.
Despite the Ziegler’s chaotic farewell from ‘Dance Moms,’ a number of the show’s fans were disappointed to learn that the sisters were not participating in Dance Moms: The Reunion, which aired in May on Lifetime and featured a number of the show’s OGs– moms and daughters. While Kenzie admitted that she watched the reunion special when it aired, she said her past experience on the show prevented her from being there with her former co-stars in person.
“I saw a lot of comments like, ‘Why didn’t they do this for the fans? Why didn’t they go?’ Personally, I just dealt with a lot of trauma from that show and I have the worst anxiety from it,” she explained. “I would’ve loved to be with the girls. But I also didn’t want to sit on television and watch back a traumatic part of my life that is so far from me now.”
As The Ashley previously told you, ‘Dance Moms: The Reunion’ featured Chloe Lukasiak (Season 1-4, Season 7), Brooke Hyland (Seasons 1-4), Kalani Hilliker (Seasons 4-7), JoJo Siwa (Season 2, Seasons 5-6), Kendall Vertes (Seasons 2-7) and Paige Hyland (Seasons 1-4).
(When asked on social media last year about the OGs who weren’t participating in the reunion, JoJo confirmed that all of the OGs-– aka those who appeared on ‘Dance Moms’ between Season 1 and Season 7–- had been invited to attend.)
Regarding her and Maddie’s absence from the reunion special, Kenzie added that she was “sorry to the fans … but I didn’t feel comfortable.”
“People think Maddie and I are unappreciative about where we came from,” she continued. “I don’t feel the need to talk about it because I’m an adult and I was a child at the time.”
Because she was only six years old when she first appeared on ‘Dance Moms,’ Kenzie said she doesn’t remember a lot from the show, though what memories she does have from it aren’t particularly positive.
“That was my childhood,” she said. “I never went to middle or high school or did any normal kid things. So looking back at it, I feel sad for myself because I never got to experience real life. I mentally feel like I’m 45 because I’ve lived so many lives. I had to grow up so quickly.”
Still, the 20-year-old, who has continued her career as a singer/songwriter, claims she “so thankful” for the ‘Dance Moms’ experience, as it made her more immune to public criticism.
“ … I wouldn’t be where I am without [‘Dance Moms’],” she said. “I wouldn’t have such a tough skin because this industry is so intense, especially with the social media aspect of it. No matter who you are, people are going to find a way to hate you. Now, anyone could say anything to me and I’m like, ‘Whatever.’ I feel good and I’m happy.”
Back in September, Kenzie’s former dance coach Abby spoke about her longstanding riff with the Ziegler family, revealing that one of the main issues she has with the family stems from Kenzie’s 2014 song, “It’s a Girl Party,” which Abby claims to have “never seen one penny” from, despite producing the single.
“A song that went No. 1 in three counties on iTunes … I produced it,” Abby alleged. “I bought the song. I did everything for that child. Mack Z was my creation.”
Abby went on to explain that, while she did get back the $27,000 she contributed to the project, she didn’t receive anything more than that.
“ … I’ve never seen one penny from the music,” she said. “And I had a 360 deal with Mackenzie. So where is it?”
Abby went on to say there was “a lot of ugly darkness there”– seemingly referring to her relationship with the Zieglers.
The Ashley reported earlier this month that the popular Lifetime reality series is getting a reboot with Dance Moms: A New Era, premiering August 7 on Hulu. Stepping in to coach the series is Glo Hampton of Studio Bleu in Ashburn, Virginia.
Meanwhile, Abby released the trailer for her new dance series, Abby Lee Dance With Me, in May. A premiere date has yet to be announced for the series, though Abby has stated that it will be available to stream on Season 9 TV.
RELATED STORY: JoJo Siwa Gets Slammed For New “Predatory” Music Video, Days After Her New Reality Show Is Announced
(Photos: Instagram; Lifetime)
17 Responses
Fair enough! If Abby was so mean and traumatized these 2 why didn’t their mother pull them out of the show, never once heard these 2 say they wanted to quit.
it’s called a contract. it’s very well known that the producers, managers, and directors of the show were genuinely evil people. they threatened to take houses, not pay the moms or kids, etc. they signed their kids up for a documentary, which is what dance moms was originally supposed to be. they signed up their kids because they wanted their kids to have a name in the world, regardless of what it would do to them. if anything, you should be complaining about the moms and abby lee for not trying their hardest to get these kids out of the contracts rather than bitching about the traumatized children not wanting that type of platform anymore. please fix your priorities.
New contract every season. Could have quit after the first season.
incorrect. one contract for the first six seasons, which is why those girls did not leave until season 6. look it up.
Because their mother is an ass hat, like all the other moms who allowed their kids to be abused for the sake of fake & money. The mommas & Abby Lee are the ones you wanna drag, not the kids who had zero control over any of it.
fame & money, damn phone.
I’ve never watched the show, but I’ve always thought Abby was a horrible person. I understand competition and tough love, but she seems downright mean.
Yes. All of this.
Because the producers and editors were going to show footage of the kids complaining about the iron clad contracts they were unable to get out of?
If it weren’t for Abbie no one would know who these to bratty liars are. They learned from their home wrecking mother.
Your comment is complete trash and from the way it reads, you are too. Did you experience any of what they did? Were you on DM getting berated and hollered at? It’s complete shit for you to sit there and call these girls bratty, ESPECIALLY when the resounding census is that Abby Lee made their lives a living hell. If these girls don’t want anything to do with it because it was traumatizing for them, that is their right. You can sit back & take comfort in the fact this little girl has (and will) made more $ as a teen than you probably will your entire life & believe me, she doesn’t give two shits about your opinion. She’s laughing at you all the way to the bank, baby.
Also you obviously didn’t read the damn article, because she acknowledged DM launched her to be where she is today.
What’s wrong with you Anita???
Seek help and, please, stay FAR AWAY from children seeing as you clearly approve of child abuse. You sound like you’d be great friends with Jenelle Evans. Wow.
Also, it’s “two” not “to.”
Excuse me Anita. The kids were all minors and not able to sign contracts. That issue lies with the parents. Abby Lee Miller treated those kids like trash. I truly understand competition but I also what trauma of any kind does to a kid and it has lifetime affects. Abby Lee Miller was nothing but a bully who played favorites and what should have been a great experience for those kids was horrible. Shame on the parents. As for Miller, she deserves nothing from those kids!
This is honestly really mature and impressive. I’m happy for her that she has been able to stand up for herself and realize what is healthy for her regarding this whole aspect of her life. Way to go, Kenzie!