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Dance Moms’ Holly Frazier Speaks Out After Fellow Moms Christi and Kelly Criticized Her Daughter Nia’s Memoir
Dance Moms alum Holly Frazier is standing up for her daughter, Nia Sioux.
After fellow Dance Moms stars Christi Lukasiak and Kelly Hyland criticized Nia’s new memoir, Bottom of the Pyramid: A Memoir of Persevering, Dancing for Myself, and Starring in My Own Life, Holly shared a passionate TikTok message on Monday, November 3, defending her daughter and calling out critics for trying to discredit her story.
“I am quiet because this is Nia’s moment to shine, but I see you,” Holly, 55, said in the clip. “Some of you are being manipulative by trying to deflect the issue onto me. The issue is not me … Do not invalidate [Nia’s] experience by trying to shift the blame on her mother. Shame on you. You should be embarrassed. That was an ignorant, low blow.”
The mom of three made it clear that the responsibility for the mistreatment Nia allegedly faced on the show didn’t fall on her shoulders. “No one was hired to be evil or cruel,” she said. “The issues came from someone who did not do their job.”
@dr.hollyhatcherfrazier I am disengaging from anyone who has the wrong opinion. Buy Bottom of the Pyramid and support @NiaSioux 📚
Nia’s memoir — released Tuesday, November 4 — reflects on her six seasons on the hit Lifetime series, where she began at just 9 years old. In the book, the 24-year-old opens up about her time on the show, including the alleged racism and mistreatment she experienced from former dance teacher Abby Lee Miller.
Holly’s post came shortly after Christi and Kelly discussed the memoir on their “Back to the Barre” podcast, expressing frustration that they hadn’t been notified beforehand.
“She talks about all of us and our kids, and I just feel like … a phone call would have been nice, saying, ‘My daughter is going to talk about everybody in the book,’” Kelly said. “Meanwhile, my kids weren’t even there for 90% of it, what she’s talking about in the book. But we’re lumped in all of that.”
Holly, however, made it clear that she and Nia don’t owe anyone an explanation. “So many people have been touched by [Nia’s] experience that she wanted to share [it] because she knows other people identify and relate and she’s not alone,” she said in her TikTok video. “What we’re not going to do is manipulate the truth and the narrative to fit your own agenda because you don’t want to hold certain people accountable.”
She ended her message by thanking those who have shown support, calling out those criticizing her daughter without reading the memoir. “Instead of talking about my kid, instead of talking about a book you haven’t read, why don’t you support her?” she said, adding that she’s “disengaging from anyone who has the wrong opinion.”
In Bottom of the Pyramid, Nia details multiple instances of alleged racism during her Dance Moms years — including Abby Lee Miller allegedly asking if she ever wished she had “White girl hair,” and assigning her racially charged solos. She also claims Miller offered singer Aubrey O’Day $10,000 not to work with her during season 5.
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