Abby Lee Miller: 'I've Been Yelling for 30 Years'
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 5:04AM
One of the biggest criticisms of "Dance Moms" dance instructor Abby Lee Miller is that she yells too much -- at both her students and their mothers.
After all that yelling, does Abby feel bad for the way she treats those at her studio? She says, "No."
"I've been yelling for 30 years," Abby says. "It's funny, because the students that I have that have gone on to great success say, 'Why didn't you do this show 20 years ago when you were really mean?'"
Abby says that, like any parent, she only loses her temper as a last resort, when all other tactics have not resulted in the outcome she'd hoped for.
Hear Abby explain her yelling in the video below…
After all that yelling, does Abby feel bad for the way she treats those at her studio? She says, "No."
"I've been yelling for 30 years," Abby says. "It's funny, because the students that I have that have gone on to great success say, 'Why didn't you do this show 20 years ago when you were really mean?'"
Abby says that, like any parent, she only loses her temper as a last resort, when all other tactics have not resulted in the outcome she'd hoped for.
Hear Abby explain her yelling in the video below…
Filed Under: As Seen On The Show
Comments
I like her show , she does a good job with the girls, but I cold never be around anyon who yell soooooooooooo much
I just wonder if everyone would raise this much ruckus if they heard a football, soccer or other coach yelling at their players? What is the difference? Why is it OK for one and not the other? I can just hear it now... "Awww Little Buddy! Poor thing..It's OK you fumbled the ball...I am sure if I encourage you with praise and love you will get it right the next time..." Yeah, right!
I am a seventy year old woman, but if Abby Lee yelled at my granddaughter the way she does, she would be picking herself up off the floor. She has her favorite Maddie and she picks on Cloe because of her Mom.
I believe that the real reason she yells and is verbally abusive to the children, and that her dance routines for them are completely innappropriate for them (I'm sure peodophilles love it though), is that she is doing to the children in her charge what her Mom did to her. That is why she cannot see that what she does is child abuse.
When you don't have any awareness of the humiliation, degradation, and, I would say a kind of sexual abuse that must have happened to her, since she does it to those in her charge.
She is known to have said that her greatest fear is to lose her Mom. That sounds to me like someone who wanted and needed approval and just plain old love, and didn't get it.....so totally in denial....she never shows or speaks of any true emotions, not her own, nor does she show any awareness of the children's true natures and sensitivities.
It is only about fame and sucess......btw, she also blames the chidlren for her abusive behavior (I only hit them because they didn't pick up their toys and I told them OVER and OVEr to do it-were this physical abuse....)
I have watched Dance Mom's and I am totally appauled at the way Abby Lee talks not only with the Mom's but also the kids. Agreed she may get results, however I must say that you do not have to be so blunt loud and rude to get them. My daughter skates and has been since she was 3. Her Coach for the past 6 years not only gets tremendous results from all of her students, she does it with out the harshness, all of her students respect her and would go to the moon to follow her. She not only has been a professional skater herself, unlike Abby and her comment "those that can't do ....TEACH" My daughter's coach teach's from Recreational to Competitive, not only does she know what she is talking about and teaching her students, she teaches them proper sportsmanship, professionalism, how to accept a win as well as a loss, code of ethics on the ice, courtesy and respect to other skaters. As a Mom, I have watched many coaches and there are some like Abby, and I would have my daughter hang her skates up before she would ever be associated with anyone like Abbey Lee or these other coaches. I would say though in skating some of the mom's act very similar to the mom's on the show!
So Abby Lee "Those that CAN DO ....can teach!"
Annie, your comment about the reason why you and others think the only reason the girls and moms stay at Abbys is cause they like the attention from the viewers is way off base, if you had watched some of the numerous interviews Abby and moms did on tv you would know that some of these girls have been with Abby since they were 3 years old, way before Abby got on tv so it isn't only about viewers attention, these girls and their mothers know and have seen how good of dancers Abby can turn these kids into,some of Abbys past students have gone on to bigger things and now have excellent careers in dance in the big times.Don't forget that a lot of Abbys yelling and meaness is also scripted for tv and so is the moms, that is what they call acting with a lot of drama,it keeps the viewers interested in the show.
I LOVE WATCHING ABBY LEE MILLER. SHE'S LARGER THAN LIFE AND ALWAYS INTERSTING. SHE MIGHT YELL AT TIMES, BUT SHE'S ALWAYS LOGICAL IN HER CRITICISMS AND COMMENTS. HOPE THE SHOW "DANCE MOMS" LASTS FOR A LONG TIME.
Abby Miller is racist, homophobic, and child abuser. And these mothers are as bad as she is. Just because it's done in the name of dance or "reality TV" is no excuse for such horrible behavior.
I GET TIRED OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU CONDEMING ABBEY LEE MILLER FOR SCREAMING AT THE KIDS AT HER DANCE SCHOOL.IF SCREAMING GETS EXCELLENCE OUT OF THESE CHILDREN SO BE IT.THE YOUTH OF TODAY ARE TOO CODDLED AND PARENT'S ARE NOT TEACHING THESE CHILDREN FOR THE FUTURE. TRUST ME AT AGE 65 MY MOTHER NEVER CODDLED ME ARE I WAS WELL PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.I WOUND UP A SINGLE PARENT WITH TWO DAUGHTERS WHO WENT ON TO COLLEGE AND GRADUATE SCHOOL,AND THE ONLY WAY MY DAUGHTERS GOT THROUH THIS IS BY WORKING HARD AND GETTING GOOD GRADES.WE WERE POOR. SO WHEN I GOT DIVORCE,I TOLD MY CHILDREN THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THIS POVERTY IS WORK HARD AND GET GOOD GRADE SO THAT YOU CANGET LOANS AND SCHOLARSHIPS. MY OLDEST DAUGHTER IS A ATTORNEY(GRADUATED FROM SALEM COLLEGE MAGNA*****LAUDE)THE ON TO LAW SCHOOL. MY YOUNGHEST DAUGHTER GRADUATE FROM SAME (SUMA*****LAUDE) THEN ON TO UNC DENTAL SCHOOL. I DID NOT ONCE CODDLED MY CHILDEN,BUT I DID LOVE MY GIRLS ENOUGH TO PREPARE THEM FOR LIFE. BECAUSE BEING POOR, YOU ARE AIUTOMATICALLY WAY BEHIND RICH KIDS.ABBEY LEE IS ONLY YELLING TO GET THESE RICH KIDS TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES.
I REALLY LIKE ABBEY LEE MILLER AND GET TIRED OF PEOPLE CRITIZING ABBEY FOE YELLING AT THE GIRLS. YOU CAN SE WHY SHE DOES YELL.BECAUSE THE GIRLS ACT AT TIMES LIKE THEY HAVE NO BRAIN AT ALL. I WOULD YELL AT THESE PAMPERED GIRLS TOO. I REALLY THINK MISS ABBEY ONLY WANTS THE BEST FOR THESE GIRLS,BUT IF YELLING IS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THESE GIRLS TO CONCENTRATEAND USE THEIR BRAINS,THEN YELL AT THEM.I DID MY GIRLS,AND NOW ONE DUAGHTER IS AN ATTORNEY,AND THE OTHER DAUGHTER IS A DENTIST. LIFE IS HARD AND THESE PAMPERED CHILDREN NEED TO START USING THEIR MIND. I WILL EXCLUDE MADDIE AND MACKENIZE FROM BEING CALLED PAMPERED,THEY USE THEI BRAIN. THIS WHY MADDIE WINS SO MUCH, SHE LISTENS TO WHAT MISS ABBEY IS SAYING AND MADDIE WANTS TO BE SOMEBODY.I AM SURE MADDIE AND MACKENIZE WILL TURN OUT TO BE THE BEST IN THIS GROUP OF GIRLS.
No doubt there are adult offenders in this whole mess, both the parents and that horrendous Abby. The parents, especially the mom, are like any others, whether it is dance, soccer, football, or whatever other extracurricular activity, wanting success at an early age, and hoping it somehow rubs back onto them. It's no different than a father wanting his son to be a football star. BUT... these parents are different in that they are allowing their daughters to be abused and taught terrible values. I've seen this teacher outright tell these girls to ignore what their mothers tell them, ignore school, ignore everyone but her. She is the Jim Jones of dance, and everyone should outright walk out on their performances and turn away from the show to send a message loud and clear.
I was astounded by this segment.
I was also very offended by Abby's demeanor and her excuses for her behavior.
I agree 100% with the woman in the audience who said that the girls say they like the classes because they want to please their mothers. No child actually likes being screamed at by a crazy lady!
Let’s remember this is a “reality Show” not reality. If there wasn’t drama people wouldn’*****ch. My daughter is 18 and I have been a dance Mom for 11 years. My daughter attends a highly competitive studio and loves it. I have never seen any Mom/Dad behave like the parents on this show. Most of the parents don’t ever go to the studio. I show-up at the competitions to watch my daughter dance with a smile on my face. It has been fun to watch my daughter and her friend dance and improve over the years, but it has also been fun watching my son play hockey and lacrosse. There will always be crazy parents that want to live through their children (in any sport). However, most parents just love their kids and support their interests. Parents should always keep in mind that at most 3% of children are truly gifted. The rest work hard for what they get. I thought the girls on your show were wonderful dancers. Nice job to them!
If you have never been to a dance competition they are very long and loud. I feel like my brain is going to bleed by the end of the day. I and the other Mom’s try to slip away between dances for a glass of wine. I always thought dance should be a performance not a competition, but the kids like to compete. If I would ever have another child I don’t think I would put them in any organized sports. I would take them on bike rides and sledding. Hindsight is 20/20.
What are those women thinking, obviously not! All about them, it's just all about them. Really hard to watch. You can tell that Anderson was really having difficulty dealing with this one, and he handled it so professionally.
Moms out there, your all so right. Abby's insecurities, obviously a visual, is what she is throwing back on these young, beautiful children. Thoses moms have lost their marbles and need to get real, but so many out there and we have so little time. What are they thinking??????