Lifetime Cancels Abby Lee Miller’s New Show After Two ‘Dance Moms’ Alums Accuse Her of Racist Behavior
Things aren’t looking too good for Abby Lee Miller right about now.
Following racist accusations made against her by Dance Moms alums Adriana Smith and Camille Bridges, Lifetime announced that they no longer plan to air Miller’s upcoming remote talent competition series, Abby’s Virtual Dance Off, which was set to debut this summer.
Adriana Smith and Camille Bridges called out Abby Lee Miller for being racist to their daughters
Miller has been called many things over the years, but this is the first time she’s been donned a racist.
In light of George Floyd’s killing, the #BlackLivesMatter protests, and the calls to action of holding others accountable for past racist behavior, two moms—Adriana Smith and Camille Bridges— have accused Miller of treating them and their daughters poorly because of the color of their skin.
After the dance instructor participated in #BlackoutTuesday — an initiative to go silent on social media and reflect on recent events — Smith unearthed a series of accusations against Miller, claiming she made racially insensitive remarks toward her and her daughter, Kamryn Smith.
“A statement from her that sticks in my mind to this day during my time on DMS8 is ‘I know you grew up in the HOOD with only a box of 8 crayons, but I grew up in the country club with a box of 64—don’t be stupid.'” Smith wrote.
She continued, “This my friends is not something or a statement that can be googled. Ask yourself what does that mean? This to me shows that you think you are better than me and in higher rank and all together superior to ME!”
Following Smith’s claims, fellow Dance Moms alum, Camille Bridges, came forward and shared her own experiences with Miller while speaking to E! News via e-mail.
Bridges told the outlet that the reality star tried to paint her daughter, Camryn Bridges, as a charity case because of her skin color and never gave credit where it was due.
“[Abby] tried to spin Camryn as being the poor one and there on scholarship. I shut that down immediately,” Bridges alleged. “She loves appropriating our culture and never appreciating it. She did not give Black choreographers on the show acknowledgment of their work. She continuously put Camryn in afros.”
Abby Lee Miller issues a public apology
Following her former Dance Moms co-stars’ accusations, Miller posted an apology on Instagram claiming that she was “truly sorry” for the things she’s said in the past and promised to do better.
“I genuinely understand and deeply regret how my words have effected [sic] and hurt those around me in the past, particularly those in the Black community. To [Adriana’s daughter] Kamryn, Adriana, and anyone else I’ve hurt, I am truly sorry,” she wrote.
Although Smith saw the post, she doesn’t accept Miller’s apology as she has yet to hear a personal one from the reality star.
“How sincere could it be?! What happened to a phone call or at least a personal direct message?” she wrote in another lengthy Instagram post.
Lifetime yanks Abby Lee Miller’s upcoming competition series
In light of Smith and Bridges’ accusations against Miller, Lifetime has decided to pull the reality star’s upcoming remote talent competition series, Abby’s Virtual Dance Off, from its summer lineup.
A representative from the network recently told The Wrap that Lifetime has “no plans to air” the new show, which was set to debut this summer.
They also revealed that Miller’s Dance Moms contract ended in September 2019, and she “will not be returning” should the series be renewed.
