Whatever your opinion of JoJo Siwa may be, one thing is for certain: She knows how to get the media’s attention.
The former child reality star has been making headlines for her bad girl rebrand. This major persona shift launched at the same time as her new song, “Karma.”
Siwa, now 20, is embracing a more adult look and sound — but audiences are not as happy about the new bad girl in town.
Siwa’s video for “Karma” released on April 5 and quickly began circulating over multiple social media platforms. Audiences were shocked to see the former Abby Lee Miller prodigy dry humping a woman.
Siwa started her career as a child star beside Miller on her shows “Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition,” and “Dance Moms” which aired on Lifetime from 2011 to 2019. She also appeared on several Nickelodeon and Disney shows including “Nickelodeon’s Ultimate Halloween Haunted House,” and “The Thundermans.”
Siwa during her early years as a child star.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images 2019
Siwa told Billboard’s Tetris Kelly at the GLAAD Media Awards in March that she is the first to have a rebrand like this in her age group, “No one has made this dramatic of change yet,” Siwa said. “No one has made in my generation this extreme of a switch.”
Siwa added that she has been inspired by Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus for years, as they have been queer icons.
At the IHeartRadio Music Awards, black and white paint covered Siwa’s face in a design that mimics the face paint sported by Gene Simmons of the iconic 1970s rock band Kiss. Siwa has also taken to sticking her tongue out in pictures — which has always been Simmons’ signature move.
According to Billboard, Gene Simmons has given a thumbs up to the new look.
Siwa recently wore a leather and silver bedazzled bodysuit to the IHeartRadio Music Awards where she debuted her new look.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images 2024
In an interview with Access Hollywood at the award show on April 1, Siwa said her rebrand was somewhat inspired by Miley Cyrus’s “Bangerz” album.
On TikTok, users have stitched her videos and replied with their reactions — and a majority of the reactions are not great.
Countless users have continued to stitch her videos to provide their distaste for Siwa saying that she is “cringe.”
Many parody videos have been posted on TikTok of people copying Siwa’s makeup and imitating her voice.
Also circulating are videos claiming Siwa stole “Karma” from singer Brit Smith, who was the first to record the song in 2012 . Siwa did not mention Smith until recently when confronted in an interview with TMZ.
Smith just did an interview with Page Six in which she explained that the song was written for Miley Cyrus by producer Rock Mafia, and Smith sang and recorded the music but never released it. Smith released her version of “Karma” on April 14.
Many on TikTok have made videos saying they like Smith’s version better and want to support it, which caused Smith’s song to soar above Siwa’s version. Smith’s version was number No. 5 on the iTunes charts — and Siwa’s was nowhere to be found.
Siwa went on the Alex Coppers podcast “Call Her Daddy,” to discuss her career.
“I will never ever claim to be a singer,” “but I will claim to be an artist,” said Siwa.
