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
8 Responses
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?
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.
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.
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….