Drama Returns! Holly Frazier Fires Back After ‘Dance Moms’ Co-Stars Bash Nia’s Book

When former Dance Moms star Nia Sioux released her memoir, Bottom of the Pyramid: A Memoir of Persevering, Dancing for Myself, and Starring in My Own Life, it was meant to be a story of resilience, identity, and growth. But not everyone has met the book with open arms — and her mother, Holly Frazier, isn’t staying silent about it.

The memoir, which hit shelves on Nov. 4, offers a candid reflection on Nia’s time on the hit Lifetime reality series. The now 24-year-old opens up about her experiences growing up on national television, including alleged racism and mistreatment she says she endured from her former dance coach, Abby Lee Miller. Frazier and Sioux appeared on Dance Moms from its debut in 2011 until 2017, during which Nia transformed from a 9-year-old girl with big dreams to a confident teenager determined to hold her own in a tough environment.

But after the book’s release, critics began shifting the spotlight from Nia’s story to her mother — accusing Frazier of keeping her daughter on the show too long despite the alleged racial undertones.

That’s when Holly Frazier decided to respond.

“Do Not Invalidate Nia’s Experience”

In a TikTok video posted on Nov. 3, Frazier addressed those critics directly, calling out what she described as manipulative attempts to deflect from the real issue.

“I am quiet because this is Nia’s moment to shine, but I see you,” she said. “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.”

Frazier, a mother of three, emphasized that the problems her daughter faced came from “someone who did not do their job,” adding, “No one was hired to be evil or cruel.”

In the same breath, she made it clear that she and Nia owe no one 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.”

Former Co-Stars Weigh In

The conversation surrounding the memoir deepened when Frazier’s former Dance Moms co-stars, Christi Lukasiak and Kelly Hyland, discussed the book on their Back to the Barre podcast. According to Hyland, they were surprised to learn about its release and felt blindsided by some of its contents.

“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,’” Hyland 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.”

Hyland also questioned why Frazier didn’t remove Nia from the show if the environment was as harmful as described.

Frazier, however, addressed that in her video, explaining that they were bound by contract and that her daughter wanted to stay. In her memoir, Nia writes that her parents tried multiple times to pull her out, but contractual obligations made it impossible. Frazier also “had to bite her tongue” at times because Nia wanted to prove herself.

“Being the Only Black Dancer Had Lasting Effects”

Nia’s account in Bottom of the Pyramid sheds light on the racial dynamics she experienced behind the scenes. She recalls Miller allegedly asking whether she ever wished she had “White girl hair” and giving her solos that carried racial undertones. She also claimed that Miller once offered singer Aubrey O’Day $10,000 not to collaborate with her during season 5 — a claim both Miller and O’Day have not publicly commented on.

In an earlier interview with PEOPLE, Nia reflected on how being the only Black dancer for much of the show shaped her identity. “That is something that is part of my story and my journey. A lot of girls of color have been through these sorts of experiences,” she said. “It’s important to share diverse stories and stories from people of color, especially when it comes to talking about racism and being the token Black girl.”

“Instead of Talking About My Kid…”

Frazier’s TikTok message didn’t just push back against critics — it also called for empathy. “Instead of talking about my kid, instead of talking about a book you haven’t read, why don’t you support her?” she said, before thanking the many who have stood by her daughter. She captioned her post, “I am disengaging from anyone who has the wrong opinion.”

For Frazier, the goal is clear: to let her daughter’s voice — and not the noise around her — define her moment. “What we’re not going to do,” she added firmly, “is manipulate the truth and the narrative to fit your own agenda because you don’t want to hold certain people accountable… We’re not going to take advantage and do my kid wrong.”

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