Maddie Ziegler apologises for ‘ignorant and racially insensitive’ videos made when she was nine-years-old

Maddie Ziegler has apologised for a series of “ignorant and racially insensitive” videos she posted when she was nine years old.

The 17-year-old dancer, actor and frequent collaborator of Sia had been called out on social media after videos were unearthed in which she appeared to slant her eyes with her fingers and speak in a stereotypical “Asian” accent.

In a statement, Ziegler wrote: “There are a few videos some of you have seen from when I was about nine years old where I thought it was funny to mock people and accents. I’m honestly ashamed and I’m truly sorry for my actions.”

Ziegler also noted that the decisions she made in those videos “are absolutely not decisions I would make today.”

“What I thought was silly humour when I was younger I know was actually ignorant and racially insensitive,” she continued. “We have all made mistakes in our lives and learn to be better people.”

Ziegler added that she had “grown up” since she made the videos, and asked for forgiveness from fans.

“I know some of you are hurt and may not accept my apology but I want to ask all of you to please be kind to each other on socials,” she wrote.

Ziegler’s younger sister Kenzie, 16, addressed her own accusations of racism in July following allegations that she had made racist jokes when she was younger.

“I’m much more educated now than I was before, and I’m so sorry,” she said. “I’m so sorry that I offended the black community. I would never treat you like that now. I would never.”

In July, Sia revealed that she once prevented Maddie Ziegler from boarding a private plane with the sex offender and former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

“I know there’s times where my insight has really made a difference, like kept her safe,” Sia said.