A week after launching an online fundraiser to get herself a service dog, Teen Mom kid Ali Simms is her defending her decision to ask fans of the show to donate money.
As The Ashley previously reported, Ali— who is the 16-year-old daughter of Leah Messer and Corey Simms— announced last week that she needs to raise $20,000 in order to get herself a service dog to help her when she enters college in two years. Fans of the show will remember that Ali was diagnosed with a very rare form of Muscular Dystrophy in 2014, which has required her to use a wheelchair sometimes to help with her mobility.
Last week, she told fans on social media that she needs a trained service dog that can help her live on her own while she’s in college. Ali has had a lot of success with her fundraiser— at press time she’s raised over $7700— but she also was hit with a lot of criticism from fans who felt Leah and Corey should pay for Ali’s dog, or use the money Ali earned appearing on the ‘Teen Mom’ shows, rather than asking fans for money.
In a new video posted to TikTok, Ali denied that she is begging or exploiting her health condition for money.
View this post on Instagram
“I hope all of you guys know I am not just quote-unquote ‘begging’ for money,” Ali said. “That’s not what’s happening. I am also working for the money. Again, I have two jobs…I love my jobs, I have great bosses…
“I was also told I needed to save [money]. I have two jobs, trust, all of that money is being saved. Any money that I make is being saved,” she added.
Ali also revealed that she is planning to do multiple in-person fundraisers locally and is not just relying on the online fundraiser to raise the money to get her service dog.
“There’s a lot of thinking that goes into this fundraising… by no means am I sitting here every day begging for money, not at all,” she said.
Ali then addressed the “Debbie Downers” who have left negative comments on her posts.
“You don’t have to donate…. A lot of you guys have been making a lot of personal accusations and it’s a lot of assumptions about me and about my family and I don’t really agree with that,” she said. “So, unless it’s positive I would personally truly like for it to stay to yourself. But I am very grateful for this opportunity and so beyond grateful to everyone who has decided to support me.”
Ali also responded to many of the negative comments left on her posts.
“You only use [Muscular Dystrophy] when it benefits you,” one person wrote.
“It’s something I live with every day,” Ali replied. “I don’t get to pick and choose when I have it.”
Ali also responded to a person who asked why Leah can’t afford to buy Ali the dog.
“This is something that I personally want to work for and fundraise on my own,” Ali wrote. “Although, yes, my parents could just do it for me. But what would that teach me? I think it is very important for me to do the fundraising on something like this. It’s going to make my process much more rewarding. My parents of course will help but this is something I wanted to do myself.”
Still, many fans did not agree with Ali’s decision to ask strangers for help.
“As a parent it’s my responsibility to provide my child for what they need,” one person commented. “Not to have my daughter take advantage of a large following and ask for money.”
“Asking strangers for money is not teaching you anything,” someone else wrote. “Your parents made more money in one episode than most people make in a year.”
Ali asked that fans stop writing negative comments about her and her parents.
“You guys also do not know me or my family personally so please quit assuming things and it is very clear you know nothing about my story,” Ali wrote in her post’s comment section. “Again, you do not have to donate. So please keep the negativity to yourself.”
The Ashley wanted to address a topic coming up a lot on social media regarding this story, in which fans are wondering why Ali doesn’t use the money she earned from appearing on ‘Teen Mom’ for her dog. While Ali was paid independently of her parents and did earn a significant amount from appearing on the show since birth, that money could have already been spent on her medical care, or it could be allocated to pay for her college tuition, dorm, etc.
MTV was not required to set up any type of trust fund for the ‘Teen Mom 2’ kids, as reality TV is not covered under Coogan Laws or any other act. The kids’ earnings were placed into accounts for them by the network; however, the type of account and how the money could be used varies by state and is up to the parents for the most part.
To donate to Ali’s fundraiser, click here.
RELATED STORY: ‘Teen Mom’ Kid Ali Simms Asks Fans for Help to Raise Money to Get Herself a Service Dog for College
50 Responses
Online fundraising is no different from doing an in-person bake sale. All these weird ads adults bullying a disabled child need to do some self reflection. She wants to do this ON HER OWN. Her independence is clearly VERY important to her and I don’t underestimate why people aren’t seeing that. Just because her parents CAN pay for it doesn’t mean that’s what she actually wants for herself.
I don’t understand why Ali needs a dog? She can see okay right? Why a chair AND a dog? An ESA I can totally understand. Not being an ass, just looking for clarification. I wish her the best. She’s a good kid.
She needs to take the free money she was gifted and give it someone who does not have the means or platform as she does.
Her parent can pat 90% for the dog and have Ali do in person fundraiser where she actually fundraises: Cookie sale, spaghetti dinner and such where she is actually contributing and making food.
Any extra she does not make should be split by her parents.
I support her getting a service dog, but I can’t help but be nervous for the dog. These reality TV households tend to be black holes for pets…
Leah is less than smart. She should have some common decency to advise her daughter NOT to ask fans for money. Soooo dumb. Total ick factor. Nothing against the kid, she’s young and doesn’t quite get it. I wish her the best and I feel she will always be cared for in every way.
Since The Ashley did not include this in her article, I will post it here. If you go to the website for 4 Paws For Ability, it lists the requirements for getting a dog. One of those requirements is to fundraise half the money needed to purchase the dog. The organization provides assistance with setting up the fundraiser. It is very likely that they are the ones who advised a gofundme. Also, Ali’s parents are likely paying for the other half, $20,000 needed to purchase the service dog. Ali is doing nothing wrong and is following the rules. She also IS a disabled person and needs disability help like a service dog. Please stop bullying her!
definitely agree, it’s so weird how quick people were to get upset at leah, corey and ali about this, ali went into detail about this when she fist posted about it and it’s sad seeing her having to defend herself because people want to get upset
you go girl!! Ali, you should be very proud of yourself & how you are handling everything. You do not let this disease define you and so glad you are living the life of any other teenager! YOU are a great young lady. And also kudos to Aleeah & Addie!
It’s simple, if you don’t support the donation site, don’t donate! Adults should not be leaving the comments they are on a 16y child’s site. Fundraising $20,000 requires several avenues to be successful which she is doing. She is working two jobs & doing in person fundraisers while still excelling in academics. In person fundraisers will require adult support & I’m sure her parents will be there to help! The donation site is just one portion of her fund raising. She is also bringing awareness to the organization where she will get the dog from & to MD. Those are great reasons to ask for support! I’m sure people will also donate directly which would help others reach their goal to receive a dog. She has been on Teen Mom since before birth. Her fans are donating out of love after watching her grow up on tv. If she hadn’t set up the donation site how many fans would suggest it or say, I would have loved to support you if you had a site? If she doesn’t reach her goal I’m sure her supportive parents will step in and help.
Ali was sweet in her response, and it’s true that people dont have to donate or comment. But, a fundraiser is not “earning” the money. Her parents should pay, bottom line.
FUNDRAISERS?!??!!! This is so embarrassing for their entire family. They hit the lottery with that kind of income in their community. How about a fundraiser for a child or animal who has 1/100 of the resources you do.
Ooof !! If it’s medically necessary and it’s been established you have funds… it’s ultra distasteful to ask random people to cover it. This is coming from someone who had cancer and severely struggled.
I hope she can raise the money but a fundraiser is begging. Also she needs to learn that if she wants to use the public for her benefit then some of the public will criticize her. She can’t have the positive feedback without the criticism. At least her parents should have taught her that
Good point.
The ablism in so many comments about this is disgusting!
Probably an unpopular opinion, but ‘Go Fund Me’ seems like the wrong venue for this… and I’m definitely not blaming Ali. I AM blaming her “dum dum” parents for not explaining to her that there is a difference between asking people to just give you money and doing an actual fundraiser (ex: baking cookies). This is also not a ‘want’. This is a medical need that her parents can afford. It should not be a fundraiser in the first place. Ali should not have to work to get a service dog. It’s not a car. JESUS GOD LEAH…buy your damned daughter the service dog she needs to be independent at college.
Adults bullying a child for trying to fundraise for a service dog is honestly so pathetic and cruel. She is working! People need to learn that they don’t actually have to have an opinion about every single thing. I did fundraisers all the time as a kid and no one told me to ask my parents for the money. I have friends from high school whose kids do sports and they still do fundraisers even though they have more than enough money. Ali is trying to do something on her own without her parents and it’s so sad that other adults are bullying her for it. You all should feel shame for your behavior.
Sam, how is it pathetic or cruel when mommy and daddy have been on TV for a decade and a half…they got plenty of money buy her a damn dog
How many times does she have to say that she wants to raise the funds herself? Normally people complain about the lack of work ethic with younger people, but with Ali it’s the opposite. She’s working to get what she needs and all these people are telling her to just get it from her parents. Smh. Also, she’s a child!!!!!! I don’t know what to say if you don’t know that it’s wrong for adults to bully a child over a freaking fundraiser. Don’t like it? Move on!!! You don’t need to bully her.
Working how?
Asking strangers for money isn’t work.
And no she’s not a child, she’s a 16 year YOUNG ADULT that needs to actually do something if she wants it.
Did you read what she had to say? She said she has 2 jobs.
Also, even if Leah and Cory were to pay, they STILL have to raise half of the funds, $20,000 through fundraising. That is a requirement to get the dog. It is listed on the website for 4 paws for ability. She absolutely has to fundraise that amount of money.
And no, ew.
A young adult is someone who is 18+. A 16 year old is still a child. Full stop.
Sam, be quiet…IF she has two jobs (which I highly doubt because she being raised by two total deadbeats) then she should raise the money her own gd self instead of asking COMPLETE STRANGERS to give her what she wants.
So, now you are saying Ali is lying about having two jobs. Wow. It’s wild that you’re bullying a child who you consider to be a young adult, and somehow you think you’re in the right. You should probably be on a watchlist somewhere.
This is weird. She’s not a regular person. She has a following due to a little famousness. They already make money bc of the viewers. Now they are asking for more money from fans. PATHETIC!
Sam, Ali ISNT a child no matter what you think.
Her mom and dad are liars so why not their offspring?
16-year-olds are generally considered adolescents or teenagers, which is a transitional stage between childhood and adulthood.
Now put this in your pipe and smoke it Sam
Some of the comments on her GFM are so gross. Using MD when it benefits her? Come on people, it’s a serious disability. Have a shred of empathy. However the one saying “as a parent” and then scolding a 16 year old child, was especially disgusting.
Our healthcare system is so fucked. I think all of these comments about who should and shouldn’t pay for a service dog are missing the forest for the trees. Her health insurance should be paying for a service dog. We have all accepted that it’s perfectly normal for people to have gofundmes to pay for health care and aids that disabled people need to live independently. Instead of placing the blame where it is actually due, on the health insurance companies, everyone is squabbling over how and where this disabled child should come up with $20k, when we should all be upset that health insurance doesn’t help with things like this for disabled people.
It’s good to hear that Ali is planning in-person fundraisers. This way she will not only bring in supporters and, ultimately, more funds to get the dog, but it also gives her an opportunity to spread knowledge about her disability. In-person fundraisers take quite a bit of time, energy and planning, so I don’t think those events are going to happen in a week or two. I’ve organized a number of fundraisers and, quite frankly, it’s exhausting but so worth it in the end!
At first I didn’t understand why Ali was setting up a donation site, but after reading the info page of the organization she’s getting the dog from, I get it. The organization REQUIRES the recipient to raise funds for their service dog. Lots of people do online charity sites for all kinds of things like plastic surgery and vacations, so why is it such an awful thing for this college-bound kid to do one so she can get a service dog? This teen has every reason to sit home & wallow in her disability, but she’s not doing that. She’s grabbing life and I wish her nothing but success.
I will never understand people getting upset when others have a fundraiser. You don’t have to donate. Plus this is for a good cause & maybe someone will donate more money to others who need help getting a service dog.
I’m glad to see Ali is doing well. When I stopped watching the show she had just gotten her first wheel chair.
I don’t have a dog in the fight over who should pay for her service dog, but the comments from social media in the article are sickening. It’s a perfect example of what I mean when I say social media has turned people into assholes.
It really has. I can’t imagine these grown adults would go up to a child in real life and say things like this to her face.
If it’s something that she needs “medically” then if her parents can get they should immediately. Forget a fundraiser. It’s not like she’s asking for a car a necessity that she should work for.
1. There’s nothing shameful in asking for help. That’s particularly true when you’re a child, and especially when you’re a child facing expensive lifelong medical challenges.
2. While there’s nothing wrong with asking for help, getting help from strangers does not constitute “doing it on your own.” It’s still getting help, and that’s okay.
3. I’m not convinced her parents *could* buy the dog for her. I understand they’re staring down a tax debt of the better part of a million dollars. They *ought* to be able to buy it, they likely *would* have been able to, had they made wiser decisions about money, but that’s on them, not on her.
Corey too?
This child has been on tv since before she was born. Leah has done many expensive things but didn’t save for their college/medical expenses? She drives expensive cars. I’m sorry this is off and wrong
Grifters gotta grift
I get wanting to work to get the dog herself without her parents. But asking for donations just feels like switching from a handout from parents, to handout from strangers. Considering the financial struggles most are facing, while I feel for her, it just doesn’t seem like this fundraising idea was well thought out. She can’t change the fact that she was on tv and should have rethought out asking online.
Wasn’t there a story (from The Ashley most likely?) a LONG time ago, they Leah had spent the girlseses money? Corey Tyler exposed her or something?
I feel like so many people, including some of the comments already just don’t get it. For starters, let’s say that her parents did pay for Ali’s service dog, and Ali accepts their money (because after all she is gaining independence and becoming her own person with individual beliefs and isn’t required to accept financial help from her parents) – something that likely hits hard for someone who probably doesn’t feel like they have a lot of individual independence from a medical condition and we’ve seen that play out on camera where Ali literally argues with her mother to want to do things for herself. Anyway if she accepted the financial help, the same people who are going off about her parents not paying for it would then be calling her spoiled and claiming that nepo babies are what is wrong with society and the list goes on. People are going to talk crap no matter what. There will always be people knocking others down yet they run to go support XYZ charity or cause that also has PLENTY of money! Not the public’s responsibility? You expect me to believe that you NEVER bought any Girl Scout cookies or supported a child’s school fundraiser before huh? Never did a “charity walk, event, or donation”? GTFOH! Yea, keep that same energy! Furthermore, there is nothing more satisfying than setting a goal and achieving that goal on your own. Going back to the individual independence thing. The grind and the journey of reaching said goal builds so much character and strength in an individual. The fact that a 16 year old young lady, despite all of the other challenges she’s had to overcome, and still faces on the daily…the fact that she has the drive, the mindset, and foresight to do this…and stick up for herself and her goals when she’s being criticized for it proves my overall point: If you truly want something bad enough, you’ll get it. Simply because you’re willing to walk through fire to get it. Clearly those who are spouting nonsense and/or saying her parents should just pay for it don’t have a clue what I’m talking about nor will they ever. Yea, the truth hurts. She’s a very strong young lady who has a bright future just based on that mindset alone.
You can tell from Ali’s responses that she is a very intelligent and sweet kid. I wish her the best, I can’t imagine what it would be like to live a day in her shoes. However, I do not agree with GFM, her family has the money and it’s tacky. Why not do the fund raiser and gift the service dog to someone who has no means but desperately needs it. Also, where is Corey Tyler in all this? Did he really okay this?
She’s 16. And adults here are bashing her. Maybe the gofundme isn’t work for you, but ask anyone trying to find a way to finance something. It’s all work. You guys are bashing a child. A CHILD. I’m sure her parents offered, but not having a wide range of physical abilities, this IS how she works and she obviously wants to do this on her own. Y’all need Jesus and one of Maci’s beers.
My comment still stands that Leah had made MORE than enough money to buy her daughter a service dog over the years. A child with a serious illness shouldn’t have to “work for one to make it more meaningful,” when the parents have the very obvious means.she deserves it.
I get wanting to pay for it on her own.
The GFM is a terrible idea.
I doubt her 2 jobs pay enough to fill a gas tank let alone buy a weeks worth of groceries.
I think they need to tap into the account.
Or Mom, Dad and grandparents need to make this happen but it’s not the public’s responsibility especially not for someone who spent 16 years on TV.
I agree 16 years on TV……where’s her part of the money that she should have made over the 16 years of being on TV? She should have more then enough money to get the dog.
And anything medically her parents or disability (if they approve it) should pay for it immediately. She shouldn’t have to make a GFM. Period.
Leah owes back taxes of over $750,000 so she has earned a pretty penny. The house she lives in is over $500,000. She takes frequent trips to Costa Rica, Alaska, California, Florida and the Dominican Republic to name a few. Sorry. But Leah could live in less luxurious means and buy her daughter a service dog. There are also programs to get a service dog but I suspect that Leah and Corey make far too much money for Ali to qualify.
Also and I adore Ali she said this is something she wants “to work for” asking people to donate to your go fund me is not working.
I would say with that big of a taxlien, not obly does she not have the money, but she most likely didnt make accounts for the money they should’ve gotten from being 9n tv for 16 years
Leah is busy paying for her sisters latest baby daddy because she’s his sponsor.
And she clearly owes back taxes. So who knows where her money is. She has been working as well. So I had a feeling she didn’t save much of it….