Fans of the hit reality TV show “Dance Moms” are in for a treat with the recent “Dance Moms: The Reunion” special. It’s been almost five years since the show concluded, leaving viewers wondering what happened to the iconic figures who made the series so compelling. Among them, Abby Lee Miller, the notoriously strict dance coach, remains a central figure of interest. This article dives into what Abby From Dance Moms has been doing since the show wrapped, leading up to the reunion and beyond.
From Prison to Podcast: Abby Lee Miller’s Tumultuous Post-Dance Moms Journey
Abby Lee Miller’s journey after “Dance Moms” has been anything but quiet. Her timeline includes significant personal and professional shifts, marked by legal battles, health challenges, and ongoing efforts to remain in the spotlight.
2017-2018: Incarceration and Legal Aftermath
During the later seasons of “Dance Moms,” Abby’s off-screen troubles began to surface. In a stark turn of events, she faced legal consequences for concealing assets during bankruptcy proceedings and failing to report international currency transactions. This led to an eight-month prison sentence from 2017 to 2018. The Department of Justice reported her conviction for hiding assets from bankruptcy court and one count of not reporting a currency transaction. Prior to this, Miller had pleaded not guilty to concealing a substantial $755,000 income earned from “Dance Moms” and its spin-offs, according to U.S. investigators.
May 2018: Cancer Diagnosis and Health Battles
Shortly after her release from prison in 2018, Abby faced another major life challenge: a diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma, a highly aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This diagnosis came after emergency surgery to address a spinal infection. Since this time, Abby has been using a wheelchair, navigating life with mobility challenges while undergoing rigorous treatment.
May 2019: Declaring Cancer-Free and Gratitude
In a remarkable turn of events, by May 2019, Abby announced that she was cancer-free. She shared with People magazine her journey through ten rounds of chemotherapy and extensive rehabilitation, expressing hope for regaining her ability to walk. In her statement, she emphasized profound gratitude, noting her reliance on the kindness of strangers for everyday assistance due to her mobility limitations.
June 2020: Racism Accusations and Series Cancellation
Despite health setbacks, Abby initially planned to continue her television career with Lifetime after “Dance Moms” concluded. “Abby’s Virtual Dance Off” was slated to be her new reality series. However, accusations of racist comments from Adriana Smith, the mother of “Dance Moms” season eight star Kamryn Smith, led to swift repercussions. Adriana Smith recounted on Instagram that Abby had made racially insensitive remarks to her daughter, including a disturbing analogy about crayon boxes and another comment about casting them to add a “sprinkle of color” to the show. Lifetime promptly cancelled “Abby’s Virtual Dance Off” in response to these serious allegations. Abby issued an apology on Instagram, acknowledging that racism stems from ignorance, but did not explicitly deny Smith’s specific accusations.
June 2022: Responding to Maddie Ziegler’s “Toxic Environment” Claims
In June 2022, Abby responded to comments made by former “Dance Moms” star Maddie Ziegler. Maddie, who achieved significant fame after the show, described Abby’s dance studio environment as “toxic” in a Cosmopolitan interview and stated she had no intention of speaking to Abby again. Abby addressed Maddie’s statements in a YouTube video, expressing disbelief and questioning why Maddie continued to participate if the environment was truly toxic. She recalled her own contractual obligations and her perception that Maddie was driven and happy to be in the studio.
January 2023: Selling the Iconic Pittsburgh Studio
A significant chapter closed in January 2023 when Abby confirmed the sale of the Abby Lee Dance Studio in Pittsburgh, the original location for “Dance Moms.” In an Instagram video, she described the sale as bittersweet. While parting with the physical property, she clarified that she retained her name, brand, and life’s work. The building was slated to become a daycare center, marking the end of an era for the studio that was central to the “Dance Moms” phenomenon.
March 2023: Teasing a New Reality TV Venture
Abby Lee Miller revealed to “Entertainment Tonight” in March 2023 her plans to return to reality television. She announced a new dance show in development, aiming for a “dramatic” evolution of “Dance Moms.” This new series would feature both younger and older dancers, with Abby hinting at a more intense and demanding environment, especially for the older students.
June 2023: Launching “Leave It On The Dance Floor” Podcast
Expanding her media presence, Abby launched a podcast in June 2023 titled “Leave It On The Dance Floor.” The podcast features Abby and guests revisiting memorable “Dance Moms” episodes and discussing various aspects of her extensive dance teaching career, providing fans with nostalgic content and behind-the-scenes insights.
October 2023: Guest Appearance on “House of Villains”
In a foray into a different reality TV format, Abby appeared as a guest on E!’s “House of Villains” in October 2023. This show brought together notorious reality TV personalities to compete for the title of “America’s Ultimate Supervillain.” While Abby’s appearance added her unique brand of drama, she did not ultimately win the competition.
December 2023 & April 2024: “Abby Lee Dance with Me” and Reunion Absence
Abby shared a trailer for a potential new series, “Abby Lee Dance with Me,” on her YouTube channel in December 2023, signaling her continued ambition to create new dance-related content. In April 2024, she promoted an updated trailer on Instagram.
However, Abby was notably absent from the “Dance Moms: The Reunion” special. In an interview with TV Insider, former students like Kalani Hilliker and Paige Hyland expressed relief at her absence. They felt it created a safer space for open and honest reflection among the former dancers, suggesting Abby’s presence might have inhibited their ability to share their true experiences on the show. Paige Hyland explicitly stated she would have declined participation if Abby had been involved, emphasizing the need for a safe and reflective environment for the reunion.
Looking Ahead for Abby Lee Miller
Abby Lee Miller’s post-“Dance Moms” trajectory demonstrates resilience and a continued drive to remain relevant in the entertainment world. From overcoming personal and health challenges to actively pursuing new projects in reality TV and podcasting, Abby remains a figure of public interest. While her style and methods have often been controversial, her impact on the dance world and reality television is undeniable, and her future endeavors will undoubtedly be watched with continued fascination by fans and critics alike.
