Dance Moms: A New Era brings back the reality TV dance show with matching controversy to boot. Other than the usual moms at each other’s throats, a routine on the show has generated a bit of pushback online. The routine in question — a solo inspired by JonBenét Ramsey.
In the eighth episode of the Hulu series, Ashlan is assigned a solo routine inspired by the young and tragic pageant contestant. For those who don’t remember, JonBenét was infamously murdered when she was just six years old. It remains a tragic unsolved mystery to this day.
True crime meets Dance Moms: A New Era
To help her prepare for the number, called Glitz, Glo Hampton tells the young dancer to research JonBenét. She told Ashlan to learn everything about her family and everything about her tragic inevitable end.
This is already enough to raise eyebrows, but perhaps one of the strangest parts of the episode is Ashlan’s mom Lisa helping her do her research. They watched videos of the young pageant star while Lisa explained that she got “kidnapped and murdered.”
Ashlan looked sad and anxious and even shared her apprehension about the routine. “It’s gonna be hard pulling off as like a beauty queen,” she explained. I mean, I don’t blame her. It’s a lot, especially for such a young girl.
Lisa continues sharing JonBenét’s tragic tale sharing there is no resolution to the case even with a ransom note. And that JonBenét’s parents were asleep in the house when she was taken.
And then instead of worrying about the impact the story has on her daughter, Lisa shares that her reaction to JonBenét’s story was “negativity slipping in” and overcoming the excitement of the solo. Ashlan concluded the research session by saying, “Oh my gosh, this is really not for me, but I’ll do anything for the win.”
There’s already so much pressure on Ashlan and the girls for a spot at Nationals. Was it really necessary to throw JonBenét’s tragic story into the mix? Many viewers think not and that it was done in poor taste all around.
After receiving critique for the routine, Ashlan adds, “I kinda know how JonBenét felt. I’m never good enough.”
Dance Moms: A New Era is now streaming on Hulu.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK THE ROUTINE WAS A BAD IDEA? OR IS IT NOT THAT A BIG A DEAL?
