Abby Lee Miller Wants Credit For Maddie Ziegler’s Success Post-‘Dance Moms’

Former “Dance Moms” coach Abby Lee Miller wants to be recognized as someone who was instrumental for Maddie Ziegler’s success in Hollywood. Miller also claims that she’s been a mother figure to Sia’s music video muse.

In her Lifetime special “Dance Moms: Abby Lee Tells All,” which aired on Tuesday, Miller has opened up about what she truly feels regarding Ziegler’s success outside of the dancing docuseries. “I don’t think had she not been in my studio, she would be where she is today,” the controversial television personality said. “And I can confidently say that. I’m not gonna say that I made anybody, I didn’t make her, her mom and dad created her, but I certainly added my two cents in.”

After expressing that she’s responsible for Ziegler’s post-“Dance Moms” success, Miller went on to say that she’s hoping Ziegler doesn’t forget about the good times they had. “I hope that she doesn’t forget the good times cause there were a lot more good times than bad times,” she was quoted as saying by Us Weekly.

READ: What did Abby Lee Miller do before entering prison?

Miller also voiced out that she’s actually disappointed over not being part of Ziegler’s successes in Hollywood. Apart from starring in Sia’s music videos, Ziegler has made her acting debut in “The Book of Henry” last month. She’s also voicing a character in the upcoming animated movie “Leap.”

For Miller, what she had with Ziegler was more than just a coach-and-student kind of relationship. She felt like she was a mother to the rising star. She also admitted that she proudly talks about Ziegler to her friends. “I tell my friends, ‘She’s adorable, she’s wonderful! It’s a great film!’” she shared.

She also likes the fact that Ziegler’s projects requires the young dancer to perform. “I look at what she has done, and the other jobs and the other opportunities besides ‘Dance Moms,’ they all involve dancing, they’re all about dance, they’re all judging dance, dancing, performing, something,” Miller said.

READ: Abby Lee Miller happy to have helped ‘Dance Moms’ kids

At one point during her two-hour special, Miller admitted that she’s actually afraid of entering prison. “I am petrified,” she said, before revealing she’s worried about the physical altercations that might happen while she’s serving her time, according to ABC News. “It’s definitely something that I’m terrified of, yes.”

“I hope it won’t be as bad as I imagine,” Miller added. “I mean, if a whole gang of people want to kill you, they’re gonna do it. If a whole bunch of people want to make your life a living hell, they’re gonna do it. If it’s that bad, I probably won’t survive.”

Miller started her prison sentence earlier this month. She is bound to stay at the FCI Victorville facility in California for 366 days as punishment for her bankruptcy fraud.