Former Dance Moms star JoJo Siwa has recently revealed behind-the-scenes drama from the Dance Moms: The Reunion special. In a candid discussion on her podcast, “JoJo Siwa Now,” the 20-year-old pop star and dancer disclosed that producers attempted to instigate conflict and create unnecessary drama during the highly anticipated reunion.
JoJo Siwa at Dance Moms Reunion Special Reveals Producer Drama
Siwa, known for her vibrant personality and time on Dance Moms, reunited with several of her former castmates for the special. However, notable absences included Maddie and Kenzie Ziegler, who opted out citing mental health concerns, and Nia Sioux, who simply declined to participate. Abby Lee Miller, the controversial and often abrasive dance instructor, was also not present at the reunion.
According to Siwa, the producers of the reunion special were keen on stirring up drama, particularly by pushing her to contact Abby Lee Miller during filming. Siwa recounted on her podcast that producers “kept wanting” her to reach out to Miller. She explained that while she and Kalani Hilliker maintain a relationship with Abby, unlike some other cast members like Paige, Brooke, and Chloé who had less positive experiences, she firmly resisted this suggestion.
Siwa stated her reasons for refusing to involve Miller in the reunion in that way. “Absolutely not,” she told the producers, drawing a firm line. Her concerns were twofold: protecting her own dynamic with Abby and also shielding her former castmates from potential discomfort. She elaborated, “I’m not only putting myself in an awkward position of calling in this environment, that no one invited her to, but also I’m putting Abby in a weird situation where she is talking to people who she doesn’t necessarily know how to talk to them.” Siwa acknowledged that some of her co-stars have “real trauma” associated with their time on the show and interactions with Miller.
Despite the challenging environment of Dance Moms, Siwa expressed a nuanced perspective on her relationship with Abby Lee Miller. “I have a good relationship with Abby. I have chosen to see that Abby only ever wanted what was best for me and only ever was tough on me because she wanted what was best for me.” This understanding informed her decision to protect her bond with Miller, as well as her relationships with Brooke, Paige, and Chloé, from potentially manufactured drama.
Beyond the Abby Lee Miller situation, Siwa revealed further producer interference aimed at generating conflict. She described how producers “tried to do some shady s—t,” specifically mentioning attempts to pit her against Chloé Lukasiak. The producers were interested in reigniting a past “online beef” between JoJo and Chloé for the cameras. However, Siwa stated that she had moved past any previous disagreements and felt such manufactured conflict was unnecessary and unproductive.
Despite these producer tactics, Siwa found the reunion experience to be “so healing for all of us.” However, she also felt that “there was, honestly…a better way to do it.” Offering an alternative, Siwa playfully suggested, “Stick all of us in a house for a month” to see what unfolds naturally, hinting at a desire for a more authentic and less manipulated reunion experience. Her comments shed light on the behind-the-scenes pressures and manufactured drama often associated with reality television reunions, even for shows centered around the lives of young dancers like Dance Moms.
