“Dance Moms: A New Era” is under fire for a solo dance routine inspired by , a 6-year-old beauty pageant contestant whose unsolved 1996 kidnapping and murder continue to . The unscripted reality television series is a ,” which ran on Lifetime from 2011 and 2019 and , in addition . In Episode 8 of “Dance Moms: A New Era,” dance coach Gloria “Glo” Hampton assigns a student a dance solo inspired by Ramsey.
The segment stirred backlash among audiences, who called it “ .” This isn’t the first time the “Dance Moms” franchise has featured choreography inspired by crimes. Brynn Rumfallo played Elizabeth Short, the murder victim nicknamed the Black Dahlia, in a dance routine; Maddie Ziegler performed a number as the murderer Lizzie Borden.
Both dances were met with . Hulu and Hampton did not respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment regarding the controversy.
Here’s what to know about the routine. In the episode “Glo Don’t Give with Both Hands,” Hampton assigns two dancers solo performances for an upcoming competition. Hampton tells her 11-year-old student, Ashlan Scheide, that she will portray Ramsey in a routine called “Glitz.
” “I want you to research JonBenét,” Hampton instructs Ashlan in the episode. “I want you to know all about her, everything about her family and about her tragic ending, OK?” Hampton calls Ashlan a “born actress,” which seems to weigh into her assignment. “Remember, it’s a really sad, tragic story.
So you.