April 18th 2025.
JoJo Siwa became a household name after appearing on the reality TV show, Celebrity Big Brother. However, her journey to fame was not without its challenges. Despite winning the hearts of the nation with her bubbly personality and openness about her gender, JoJo faced homophobic language from fellow housemate Mickey Rourke and her friendship with Chris Hughes was heavily scrutinised.
But JoJo's charm and honesty have been captivating audiences for over a decade since she first made her debut on TV. Most people know her for her signature large bows and impressive dance skills on the Lifetime reality show Dance Moms, which followed the lives of young girls training at a prestigious dance academy. However, what happened to the controversial show? Let's take a look at JoJo's time on Dance Moms, the scandals that rocked the program, and its ultimate fate.
JoJo joined the cast of Dance Moms in 2014, along with her mother Jessalynn Siwa, who is a professional dance instructor from Iowa. The show, which began airing in 2011, followed the careers of young dancers under the guidance of renowned instructor Abby Lee Miller, the owner of the Abby Lee Dance Company. Along with their dance training, the show also delved into the dynamics between the dancers, their mothers, and Abby herself.
Before joining Dance Moms, JoJo had competed on Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition, which was produced by Abby. However, she was eliminated in week nine. JoJo then made her official debut on Dance Moms in 2014, at just 11 years old, replacing fellow dancer Chloe Lukasiak. She left the show briefly in 2016 when she landed a deal with Nickelodeon, but returned in 2019 to make a guest appearance in an episode.
Each week, viewers saw Abby's strict nature on full display as she used harsh criticism to motivate the girls. She even ranked the dancers based on their performance, attitude, effort, and behavior, using a pyramid featuring their individual headshots. In season five, the show shifted its focus from dance competitions to preparing the young dancers for careers in acting and music, as they relocated to Los Angeles.
Dance Moms faced numerous controversies throughout its run, from accusations of abuse to legal issues involving Abby. Behind the glitz and glamour of the show, many accused the parents and Abby of exploiting the children for fame. Some even described the show as "borderline child abuse" and called for it to be stopped. The risque costumes and provocative dance routines also received backlash, with one episode being pulled after severe criticism.
Abby's teaching methods also drew criticism, with some labeling her as toxic and abusive. She was accused of emotional and physical abuse by various children from the show, and one family even sued her for damages. However, the lawsuit was eventually thrown out, and the family faced their own legal troubles when the mother was arrested for assaulting Abby during a competition.
One of the show's biggest stars, Maddie Ziegler, also spoke out against Abby's teaching style, saying it had a negative impact on her. In 2015, Abby was indicted and charged with concealing earnings from the show. She eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year in prison. This led to her taking a hiatus from Dance Moms to serve her sentence.
In the end, Dance Moms came to an end after seven seasons. Despite its controversies, the show was a hit and launched the careers of several young dancers, including JoJo Siwa. And while JoJo may have moved on to even greater success, her time on Dance Moms will always be remembered.
JoJo Siwa became a household name after appearing on a widely talked about reality TV show, but no, it wasn't Celebrity Big Brother. Since stepping into the Celebrity Big Brother house, JoJo has captured the hearts of the nation. However, her journey to fame has not been without its challenges. While competing on Dancing With The Stars, she faced discrimination from fellow contestant Mickey Rourke and her friendship with Chris Hughes was closely scrutinized. Despite these obstacles, JoJo's infectious personality and openness about her gender identity have won over viewers for over a decade since her television debut.
Most people know JoJo for her signature oversized bows and impressive dance skills on Lifetime's reality show Dance Moms, which followed the lives of young girls training at a prestigious dance academy. But what exactly happened to this controversial show? Let's take a look at JoJo's debut on Dance Moms, the numerous scandals that rocked the show, and its ultimate fate.
JoJo joined the cast of Dance Moms in 2014 alongside her mother Jessalynn Siwa, a professional dance instructor from Iowa. The show, which premiered in 2011, followed the training and careers of young dancers under the guidance of renowned instructor Abby Lee Miller, who owned the Abby Lee Dance Company. Along with showcasing the dancers' talents and aspirations in the entertainment industry, the show also delved into the dynamics between the dancers, their mothers, and Abby herself.
Prior to joining Dance Moms, JoJo competed on the second season of Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition, which was produced by Abby. However, she was eliminated in week nine. Not long after, she made her official debut on the fourth season of Dance Moms at the age of 11, replacing another dancer named Chloe Lukasiak. JoJo briefly left the show during its sixth season in 2016 to pursue a deal with Nickelodeon. She later returned in 2019 to guest star in one episode.
Each week, viewers were exposed to Abby's strict teaching methods, which often involved harsh criticism to motivate the young dancers. She even used a pyramid to rank the girls based on their performance, attitude, effort, and behavior. In season five, the show shifted its focus to preparing the dancers for careers in acting and the music industry when the team relocated to Los Angeles.
Despite its popularity, Dance Moms was not without controversy. Over the years, the show faced accusations of child abuse and legal issues involving Abby. While the glitz and glamour of the show may have been enticing, many viewers and critics alike felt that the children and their parents were being exploited for fame. Some even went as far as to call the show "borderline child abuse" and demanded that it be stopped.
The show's risque costumes and choreography also sparked backlash, with one episode being pulled after featuring the young dancers in flesh-toned outfits to make them appear nude. This sparked a conversation about what is appropriate for young dancers to perform. Abby herself was also heavily criticized for her toxic and abusive teaching methods, which often involved shaming her students for their appearance, weight, and intelligence. She faced lawsuits and accusations of emotional and physical abuse from some of the children and their families.
Maddie Ziegler, one of the most successful stars to come out of Dance Moms, spoke about the negative impact Abby's teaching style had on her. She shared that she had blocked out much of her childhood and was still struggling to unlearn some of the perfectionist traits that were instilled in her during her time on the show.
In 2015, Abby was indicted in Pittsburgh for concealing over $755,000 in earnings from Dance Moms. She pleaded guilty to charges of bankruptcy fraud and concealment of bankruptcy assets and was sentenced to one year and a day in prison. This led to her taking a hiatus from the show to serve her sentence.
Despite its controversies, Dance Moms remains a significant part of JoJo Siwa's journey to stardom. While the show may no longer be on the air, its impact on the entertainment industry and its young stars is undeniable.
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