
JoJo Siwa Confirms Sexuality: "I Have Never, Ever, Ever Been This Happy Before"
By Gina VaynshteynJan. 24 2021, Published 9:47 a.m. ET
In January 2021, JoJo Siwa convinced the internet that she may have come out of the proverbial closet. After posting a TikTok of her lip-synching Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," and appearing in @kentboyd_'s TikTok which shows teens dancing to "One Of Us" (the TikTok was also hashtagged #proudhousela) people took this as a sign of JoJo coming out and announcing she's queer.
She has also posted a photo of herself wearing a shirt seemingly announcing she's gay — and now she's confirmed her LGBTQ status.
Fans initially questioned JoJo's sexuality after she posted a "Wipe It Down" challenge video.
This isn't the first time the internet has wondered if JoJo may be queer. Back in May 2020, JoJo posted a TikTok "Wipe It Down" challenge video that showed her transforming from her regular rainbow outfitted and ponytailed self to a girl wearing a Gucci shirt and loose hair. People immediately assumed this meant she came out.
@itsjojosiwaIT’S MY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW
♬ original sound - JoJo Siwa
JoJo continued, "There are so many people that are there for you. I know everyone's situation is different and it might be harder for some people and easier for some people to come out or be themselves but I think coming out has this stigma around it — that it's this really, really scary thing, but it's not anymore. There are so many accepting and loving people out there that it's okay."
Commenters asked her what this meant and if she listened to girl in red (this is essentially TikTok code for queerness, and references queer Norwegian singer girl in red). Steph Frosch tweeted, "Free Jojo Siwa from her contract so that she can blossom into the TikTok lesbian that she was born to be."
Free Jojo Siwa from her contract so that she can blossom into the TikTok lesbian that she was born to be. https://t.co/EsXInQQVWj
— Steph Frosch (@ElloSteph) May 19, 2020
JoJo Siwa's TikTok prompted another discussion about her sexuality in January 2021.
Prior to January 2021, Jo Siwa had rarely openly discussed her sexuality. Back in August 2020, it was reported that JoJo and musician Mark Bontempo were officially dating, but they broke up in November.
Now, JoJo Siwa's sexuality is trending and people are curious to know what JoJo's videos mean. It would be a pretty big deal that such a well-known teen star has come out – it sets a great example for other young adults who might feel scared to express themselves.
@kentboyd_Now your one of us!! @itsjojosiwa @molleegray @garrettclayton91 @jekajane ##pridehousela
♬ now ur one of us - Mia Mugavero
Journalist Yashar Ali tweeted, "This feels like a big deal if it is what I think it is...JoJo Siwa is hugely popular with kids. And as someone just pointed out, if it is what I think it is, she's doing it at the height of her fame when she's selling out arenas."
This feels like a big deal if it is what I think it is...JoJo Siwa is hugely popular with kids.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) January 21, 2021
And as someone just pointed out, if it is what I think it is, she's doing it at the height of her fame when she's selling out arenas. pic.twitter.com/oD2YehbZwu
However, one person rightfully tweeted, "the entire tl is just ‘JOJO SIWA CAME OUT???’ just a reminder to not label her unless she does herself :)"
the entire tl is just ‘JOJO SIWA CAME OUT???’
— jun?? (@pogayn) January 21, 2021
just a reminder to not label her unless she does herself :) /nm
Another wrote, "OK ik there’s a lot of speculation going around rn about jojo siwa possibly coming out bc of this vid and the one w the teen beach movie cast which is very exciting but just a reminder not to label her as anything until she confirms her sexuality :)"
ok ik there’s a lot of speculation going around rn about jojo siwa possibly coming out bc of this vid and the one w the teen beach movie cast which is very exciting but just a reminder not to label her as anything until she confirms her sexuality :) pic.twitter.com/0SBPaFpOaZ
— jordyn 🖤ミ☆ (@bIairanderson) January 21, 2021
JoJo Siwa confirmed she's part of the LGBTQ+ community in a recent tweet.
Following the speculation about JoJo's sexuality, the influencer posted a photo on Twitter on Jan. 22 confirming she is, in fact, part of the LGBTQ+ community.
"My cousin got me a new shirt," she captioned the tweet, sharing a photo of a shirt that read: "BEST. GAY. COUSIN. EVER."
The replies to the tweet are filled with an outpouring of support for JoJo, applauding her courage for coming out.
While the shirt reads "BEST. GAY. COUSIN. EVER," JoJo has not specified how she prefers to identify, so she may not identify as a lesbian. Until she clarifies further, it's best to not try to label her with a specific identity, as she'll speak further on it when she's ready.
My cousin got me a new shirt pic.twitter.com/DuHhgRto7b
— JoJo Siwa!🌈❤️🎀 (@itsjojosiwa) January 22, 2021
JoJo Siwa thanked fans for their supporting her after coming out about her sexuality.
"Personally I have never, ever, ever been this happy before and it feels really awesome. I've been happy for a little bit now. It's just so, so, so awesome," JoJo said in an Instagram Live — which she later shared as a regular post — on Jan. 23. "You guys probably haven't seen me this happy since I was on tour."
Although she confirmed that she's part of the LGBTQ+ community, JoJo hasn't publicly assigned a label to herself.
"I have thought about this, but the reason I'm not going to say this answer is because I don't really know this answer," she said. "... Right now, I'm super duper happy and I want to share everything with the world but I also want to keep things in my life private until they are ready to be public. Right now what matters is that you guys know that no matter who you love, that it's okay. It's awesome and the world is there for you."
JoJo also revealed that her mom and dad have both been incredibly supportive — and that her sexuality isn't exactly news to them.
"My parents have known. My mom said she's known for the last two years. She's like, 'I just know with you!'" she explained. "Around two years ago, she was like, 'I don't think you only like boys, that's totally okay.' They've always been so everything ... My family is awesome."
She added, "Of course people are going to say it's not normal, but nothing is normal. Literally not one thing about anybody is normal and it's okay not to be normal, it's okay to be a little different, it's okay to be a little weird, strange, different. That's something we should never, ever be afraid of. That's something we should be proud of. ... I'm the happiest I've ever been, that's what matters."
Kudos to JoJo Siwa for coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Even if she's not ready to put a specific label to her sexuality just yet, her bravery means so much to young people and adults alike.