Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller is not the only cast member of the hit Lifetime show who experienced financial problems. Turns out, Maddie Ziegler’s mom, Melissa Gisoni, also filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
According to the recent leaked court papers obtained by Radar Online , Melissa, alongside former husband Kurt, owed $1,214,284.15 to creditors . The couple reportedly owed $908,999 in mortgages for three properties, $14,000 in taxes to the IRS, and $291,967.03 of unsecured nonpriority claims. The case was discharged in 2010.
The publication further reported that the couple was spending more than $8,000 monthly, which is almost twice their combined monthly income of $4,480.06. It was said that their salary mostly went to daycare, preschool, and their security system.
Six years since the bankruptcy case, it seemed like Dance Moms star Melissa Gisoni is back on her feet. Her daughter, Maddie Ziegler, hit gold after starring in Sia’s entire music video trilogy, “Chandelier,” “Elastic Heart,” and “Big Girls Cry.” She was also given to perform outside of Dance Moms on other shows, including Ellen, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Dancing with the Stars, Saturday Night Live, and the 2015 Grammy Awards.
Maddie Ziegler also guested on Pretty Little Liars and will be making her film debut in Colin Trevorrow’s The Book of Henry , followed by Sia’s new film, Sisters. The young Dance Moms star also appeared on several magazines including Teen Vogue, Nylon, Seventeen and Elle .
Adding to her list of accomplishments, Maddie confirmed that she will be joining So You Think You Can Dance , making her the youngest judge in the show’s history.
Beyond thrilled and honored to be joining the So You Think You Can Dance family!!???? @DANCEonFOX
— Maddie Ziegler (@maddieziegler) March 3, 2016
The reality star will be joining seasoned judges and accomplished dancers Nigel Lythgoe, Paula Abdul, and Jason Derulo. Ziegler is bound to be a perfect fit for the next installment of SYTYCD, given that the show will feature younger dancers between ages 8-13.
Multiple insiders previously claimed that Maddie Ziegler’s net worth is at over $2 million. According to Design & Trend , most of her earnings came from starring in Dance Moms since Season 1. The outlet dubbed Maddie as the “highest paid reality star on the Lifetime show.”
While Maddie acknowledged that she owes most of her success to Dance Moms , early this year, Entertainment Tonight confirmed that the 13-year-old is ready to leave reality TV behind. Her mom, Melissa Gisoni, and younger sister, Mackenzie Ziegler, will also be leaving the series.
In a promo clip for the upcoming episode of Dance Moms Season 6 , the moms confronted Melissa about the issue of Maddie leaving. An emotional Melissa seemed to have confirmed the rumor as she bid goodbye to their co-stars.
“I’m sorry. We had such a great ride together. Love you guys.”
https://www.facebook.com/DanceMomsonLIFETIME/videos/vb.229461663743288/1047457051943741/?type=2&theater
While most of the Dance Moms stars were sad to see Maddie Ziegler go after Season 6, some cannot help but take this as an opportunity to impress Abby Lee Miller. For one, Ashlee Allen believes that her daughter, Brynn Rumfallo, can very well take Maddie’s spot . In the last episode, the ALDC coach even asked Maddie and Brynn to dance side by side thinking the latter could learn a lot from her No. 1 student.
“I haven’t seen you step up to be the leader of this team and that’s something that Maddie does and that’s what you need to do,” Miller told Rumfallo.
Jill Vertes, on the other hand, thinks that if anyone can take Maddie’s place in Dance Moms , it would have to be her daughter, Kendall K. She pointed out that they have long worked hard for what they have achieved so far, adding that she will never let Ashlee and Brynn take it away from her.
“Kendall K has been groomed to be the next star. There’s a pecking order here at the ALDC and sister, you’re in the bottom.”
Dance Moms Season 6 airs Tuesdays on Lifetime.
[Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images]