Dance Moms

Ex-"Dance Moms" host Abby Lee Miller doesn't appreciate getting dissed by the moms on the show ... 'cause she's the one who helped 'em get $20k per episode just for being couch-sitting housewives.

We got Abby outside the Mondrian Hotel Wednesday in West Hollywood where she told us all she ever wanted, and still wants, from producers is a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

She announced her departure earlier this week, and almost immediately some of the moms threw shade Abby's way while praising her replacement, Cheryl Burke ... who they say "will show up and not complain."

The moms of "Dance Moms" are absolutely thrilled with their new host, Cheryl Burke, and equally excited to throw dirt on Abby Lee Miller's metaphorical grave.

The longtime "Dancing with the Stars" pro showed up at 8 Count Dance Academy in L.A. to start working with her new students. She played it coy when paps compared her to Abby.

The moms, on the other hand, couldn't wait to blab about ditching Abby and upgrading -- in their eyes -- to Cheryl.

Damn. Body's not even cold.

"Dance Moms" star Abby Lee Miller is quitting the show because she says she's tired of being manipulated by male producers who don't know jack about dance.

Abby's been schooling kids in dance -- in her own unique way -- for 7 seasons, but posted her resignation in the wee hours of Monday morning. She blasted producers over creative differences ... saying she's continuously asked for credit on "all the ideas, award winning routines and costumes" but to no avail.

She insists she has no problem teaching the kids, but rather with "being manipulated, disrespected and used, day in and day out by men who never took a dance lesson in their lives and treat women like dirt."

It's unclear if she's quitting teaching altogether or just the reality show. We're waiting to hear back from her camp, and Lifetime has "no comment."

"Dance Moms" star JoJo Siwa doesn't mind a little friendly competition with alum Maddie Ziegler at the moment ... 'cause she thinks they'll be pallin' around under one roof when it's all said and done.

We got the 13-year-old dancer out in Playa Vista Tuesday where she told us she and Maddie will end up being the next Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato.

Here's the thing ... Maddie's already moved on from "Dance Moms" to make waves with top-notch stars like Sia and Kristen Wiig. She was also a judge on this season's 'So You Think You Can Dance.' In short, JoJo's got some catching up to do.

Check out the clip -- JoJo's definitely got Maddie's back. Here's hoping Maddie feels the same way.

Abby Lee Miller's "Dance Moms" studio was swarmed with cops after they say a homeless man was arrested for trying to get inside.

Pennsylvania law enforcement tells TMZ Joe McKinstry showed up in the middle of a class Wednesday and started pulling at the studio's locked doors. We're told McKinstry demanded to get inside to read the students poetry.

However, by the time cops showed up ... they say McKinstry was sitting in the middle of the street refusing to leave. Officers had to tase him after they say he tried to attack them. He was arrested and sent to the hospital for a mental evaluation.

Cops say Abby Lee and the show's cast weren't at the studio when it all went down, but it's known McKinstry has an obsession with Mackenzie Ziegler.

We're told once he's released from the hospital, he'll be charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Thank God for Abby Lee Miller ... said Abby Lee Miller when discussing the fame and success of some of her "Dance Moms" students.

No doubt Abby's got some bragging rights ... we were at her Santa Monica studio when some of her girls, including Maddie Ziegler, were going through a hip-hop routine.

Maddie just won the Seriously Popular trophy at the People's Choice Awards, so you'll excuse Abby for crowing about how she raised her girls. As she put it, "Lord knows, if it would've been up to their mothers."

Okay, maybe you won't excuse her.

"Dance Moms" star Maddie Ziegler is leaving the Lifetime reality show and heading for the big leagues to star in a huge new movie.

The 13-year-old will hit the big screen banking at least $20,000 in a film called, "The Book of Henry."

The cast includes Naomi Watts, Sarah Silverman, Bobby Moynihan and child actor Jacob Tremblay who starred in Golden Globe nominated "Room."

The man who freaked out a "Dance Moms" cast member just got sentenced to 3 years in prison.

Phoenix Sundown was sentenced by a San Diego judge on Tuesday for the September incident. As TMZ reported ... Sundown sent several packages -- which included an Elvis blanket, a coffee maker, a scrapbook and handwritten letters -- to an underage girl on the show.

None of the packages included explosives, but when the post office intercepted them ... the bomb squad was called in to destroy them, just in case.

The "mean girls" hackers who just hit the "Dance Moms" stars again have something new to fear ... the FBI.

Our "Dance Moms" sources tell us, Monday's hack was the final straw and now some cast members -- including Kelly Hyland, whose two daughters were hacked, contacted the feds. We're told the FBI has actually been on the case since last month, but Monday's hack pushed it to the front burner.

We're told the FBI is not alone ... local law enforcement is also on the case.

"Dance Moms" cast members -- Abby Lee Miller, Mackenzie Ziegler and others -- got hacked Monday night in what looks like some brazen kids who keep coming back for more.

Sources close to the 'DM' cast members tell us the hackers have repeatedly gotten into their cellphones, iCloud, emails and PayPal accounts. The hackers have been posting phone numbers and other cast info on social media ... which is what happened again Monday night.

We're told Mackenzie awoke Tuesday to more than 2,000 messages.

The cast hired a P.I. 3 months ago to find the hacker, but they're super elusive. The P.I. believes the culprits are 4 underage girls, whom he's calling "The Mean Girls."

Abby Lee Miller and Kelly Hyland have finally buried the hatchet in their "Dance Moms" lawsuits ... and all it cost the show's production company was some floor repairs.

The case was settled last week in L.A. and according to court docs, Kelly agreed to drop her lawsuits against Abby and Collins Ave Entertainment. "Dance Moms" can still use Kelly and her daughter's image in show reruns ... for a price.

As part of the deal, Collins Ent. has to pay $17,500 to replace the floors in Hyland's home that she claims were damaged during production. The two sides must also keep up a friendly front.

TMZ broke the story -- Hyland sued Abby twice last year -- once for a brawl during a NY taping of the show and the other for causing emotional stress on her 13-year-old daughter.

"Dance Moms" star Abby Lee Miller is doing the tango with the feds now for allegedly committing bankruptcy fraud.

According to a federal indictment, Miller hid around $750k of income from creditors after filing for bankruptcy in 2010. Abby made the money from "Dance Moms" and other TV appearances.

The indictment, which includes 20 counts related to the alleged scheme, also says Abby lied on monthly financial reports for her dance studio and did NOT report some of her income.

TMZ broke the story ... Miller climbed out of bankruptcy just last year, but if the feds' homework is correct ... she was cheating the system all along.

Maddie Ziegler just turned 13 and if you're wondering what a kid who's starred in 3 Sia music videos and a reality show gets when they reach teen-hood ... ice, as in a pair of diamond stud earrings.

Ziegler's family surprised the "Dance Moms" star with a birthday party at their family's favorite hibachi restaurant. We're told the youngster was punked by her family and friends, who all profusely apologized saying they couldn't make it out for her birthday.

But when Maddie showed up at the restaurant ... her BFFs Nia, Kendall and Mackenzie from the show all yelled SURPRISE!!! We're told 2 dozen people were in on it, even Abby Lee Miller.

After the group sang happy birthday, they took down a cheesecake. And to top it all off she also got what every other 13-year-old out there wants ... an Apple Watch.

Next stop for the youngsters ... L.A., where they'll be filming the new season of "Dance Moms."

Phoenix Sundown -- the man currently behind bars for sending sexual material to a 12-year-old star on "Dance Moms" -- is so obsessed with the show he has a tattoo of Abby Lee Miller on his throat.

Sundown was interviewed in his jail cell by KGTV in San Diego, and he revealed JoJo was not his only target ... he says he also set his sights on 12-year-old Maddie Ziegler, sending her 11 boxes of material.

It will be interesting to see what happens to this guy ... whether he's prosecuted or put in a psych ward ... or both.

The guy busted for sending child porn to one of the "Dance Moms" kids had violent fantasies about Lindsay Lohan and served time in prison and a mental hospital ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs we've obtained ... Phoenix Sundown was arrested back in 2007 for assaulting his 18-year-old girlfriend. He was 29 at the time. Sundown got 3 years in a state pen, but was eventually diagnosed with a mental disorder and transferred to a prison hospital.

During counseling there ... doctors discovered Sundown had several photos of women with red pen and wax markings on their breasts and crotches. One collage showed a Lindsay Lohan pic with trails of red dripping on her body, and Sundown holding a long knife over her.

He also copped to writing to Spin magazine about his sexual fantasies with several other female celebs, but said he never contacted them directly.

Cops nabbed the guy who allegedly sent creepy packages to a "Dance Moms" star who is a minor -- and they believe some of the items he sent were pornographic.

TMZ has learned the suspect is named Phoenix Sundown ... and San Diego PD arrested him Tuesday afternoon. As we reported earlier ... the packages arrived at a Pennsylvania post office on Tuesday, and the bomb squad was called in to destroy them.

36-year-old Sundown was booked for sending explicit or obscene matter to a minor -- specifically images of a minor engaged in sexual conduct. He's being held on $25,000 bail.

We've spoken to reps for the "Dance Moms" student to whom Sundown sent the package. We're not revealing her name because of her age -- but the rep tells us Sundown started harassing the child 2 months ago.

The rep says Sundown would post pics of Elizabeth Smart, tag the the "Dance Moms" star ... and included the hashtag, "#futuregoals." They immediately reported the activity to police.