Holly Hatred?
I genuinely want to know why so many people have been hating on Holly and her time on dance moms recently. While I know she is not perfect, has flaws, and could be considered a hypocrite..I wanted to start this thread to understand others POV about her. I want this thread to be a productive conversation not a bashing or disrespectful discussion.
A few things I have read;
1) Holly called Camryn an "Uncle Tom"
So actually Holly was saying that Camryn's part at the end of the dance was "Uncle Tom" behavior. It was, if you know history. Abby put that in there knowing it could have been without. To put Camryn at the top of the pyramid the following week and say it was for that specific reason, in the dance - I can see why it put Holly over the edge. Do I think she could have expressed it better? Sure.
2) Holly kept Nia in the toxic environment.
Yes this is true. However, I am not sure what conversations Holly and Nia were having behind closed doors about Dance Moms. How do we know that Nia wasn't the one begging to stay? This is all theoretical and hypothetical. Contracts or not, maybe they both wanted to stay for clout. What's wrong with that?Honestly we will never know, maybe they felt they had something to prove as the OGs? I don't know and don't care.
3) Holly did not stand up for other black moms.
I definitely feel that Holly could have advocated for Kaya particularly when Christi said that racist comment to her in the dressing room, that I refuse to repeat. Holly should have stuck up in that moment for sure. She didn't feel compelled to though. So does that make her a terrible person? I am asking. I think Holly had a pretty solid relationship with Camryn's mom Camille. Even when Camille said Camryn had better technique Holly left it at that - she didn't argue with her (as producers probably wanted). Holly also called out the fact that because they were the 2 black dancers Abby was putting them against each other - which Abby + the producers were.
4) Bullying of Brynn
It's interesting to me that people are blaming Holly for the Bullying of Brynn when Jess and Jill did it. You all are right that Holly did not speak up for Brynn, but when did anyone ever stick up for Nia? I'm not saying that Holly gets a pass I am just saying maybe that's why she didn't say anything? Which is wrong - yes. Two wrongs do not make a right. I'm not Holly so I have no clue why she didn't speak up. I just think it's so unfair to blame the situation of Brynn getting bullied...on Holly.
5) Nia's Laquifa Solo
Many people have expressed Holly's reaction to the dance as problematic and self hated / self loathing. I think Holly did not like the dance for a muttitude of reasons. Her reaction to Nia and the Afro was a bit dramatic for sure. Perhaps, due to her own trauma, (that she needs to address on her own), she felt Nia wearing the Afro was triggering? Once again I am not Holly nor Nia so I don't know why it put her over the edge. I feel like I would have been more concerned with the quality of the dance instead of the costuming but once again, I'm not Holly. Can we acknowledge that Holly may have been projecting and then move on from it? Her reaction was wild but why are we saying she is a terrible person. The truth is that the Black experience in America is not monolithic.
Also - I want to address that many people have been saying Holly made a big deal about Laquifa but wanted to make sure Nia was Rosa Parks...yes, she did. What's wrong with that? I mean why don't we turn the conversation to Jill's racism of "My little Kendall can be Rosa Parks" like why would you want - why would you not want the only Black dancer to have one chance to shine? No one ever mentions Jill's racist behavior and attitude towards Holly during the first couple seasons. Let's turn the conversation that way.
It would be really cool in the comments, if you comment, to write the number you are responding to. As I said before I want this to be a calm discussion and constructive. I understand that many people do not like Holly and you have that right - tell me why. I really want to know other perspectives, in a fruitful way, so let's keep it appropriate.