Abby Lee Miller has defended herself after being criticized for saying on a podcast that she “still loves high school football players” – and even describing her penchant for young men as her “downfall.”
But in an exclusive quote to DailyMail.com, the controversial former Dance Moms star claims her quotes were ‘taken out of context’, despite doubling down on the quote during the podcast.
“It was taken out of context,” claims Miller, 57. “It was completely taken out of context. It’s complete and utter BS. They should at least be able to go to the pub for a drink and have a healthy bank account.’
Miller continued, “In my mind, I was referring to when I was in high school. I always liked the big, handsome jocks. Still, just older, my age. Obviously I was talking about when I was in high school. My high school reunion is coming up and there was a hunk and oooh, I hope he’s there. I really hope he’s here.’
Miller made the bizarre comments during a televised appearance Sofia Franklin’s podcast ‘Sofia with an F’.
When the podcast host and reality star talked about the Tom Cruise classic Risky Business, Abby said, “That’s my downfall, the high school football players.”
Say What Now: Abby Lee Miller, 57, sparked outrage when she said she had a thing for high school football players on the Sofia With an F podcast
Queen of controversy: The Dance Moms star sparked outrage when she doubled down on her comments about liking high school football players
She added, “I still like them,” with an awkward grin at the camera.
Sofia Franklin responded by saying, “I love the coaches.”
Shockingly, the former reality TV personality doubled down, saying, “Not the ones who used to be in high school, but someone who is.”
Listeners on the podcast were rightly outraged by the dance instructor’s comments.
One YouTube user said, “If a guy said he liked high school cheerleaders it would be disgusting and everyone would be rightfully bullied. Why is it okay for her to say she still likes high school football players?”
On X, formerly Twitter, a user commented on the hypocrisy of her statement, simply writing: “Imagine if the genders were reversed…”
While some commenters were understandably shocked by the Lifetime star’s comments, another X user wasn’t surprised.
“Abby Lee Miller is abusive and predatory? Fork found in kitchen,” they wrote.
The choreographer is best known for her role as the acerbic head dance instructor of the Abby Lee Dance Company and would appear on the hit Lifetime Dance Mom series for every episode of the show’s eight seasons.
After the series ended, she starred in a series of related spin-offs such as Dance Moms: Abby’s Studio Rescue and Dance Moms: Miami.
She also wrote her own memoir in 2014, titled Everything I Learned about Life, I Learned in Dance Class.
Awkward with a capital A: The memoirist didn’t shy away from her controversial comments on the podcast
Golden girl: The former Dance Moms: Miami star was also recently spotted auctioning off some dance items earlier this year; seen in January
No stranger to drama: The reality TV star is no stranger to courting controversy, having been charged in 2015 with bankruptcy fraud, concealment of bankruptcy assets and false bankruptcy declarations; seen last November
Head honcho: Her biggest claim to fame over the years is her lifetime hit Dance Moms, which featured life in her studio, the Abby Lee Dance Company
The controversial comments overshadowed the latest televised venture of the Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition.
She will star in the new reality TV show Mad House, which premieres on September 29.
The series features an assortment of professional dancers who compete for the opportunity to learn and live in Abby’s insane asylum to further their careers.
Mad House will be available to stream via the Brandon TV app, which also launches on September 29.