JoJo Siwa has sparked controversy in the gay music world by claiming she invented a new genre: “gay pop.”
The Dance Moms star made a bold statement in an interview with Billboard magazine, where she shared her ambitions to create a new genre called “gay pop.”
Last week, JoJo Siwa shed her image as a child star with the release of her first adult single, “Karma.” Her songs reposition herself as a “bad girl” who faces the consequences of her actions, such as cheating on her partner.
Siwa admitted, “Oh, karma is a jerk, I should have known better.” Reflecting on her actions, she admitted, “If I had a wish, I would never have imagined it.”
Later, she saw her girlfriend hooking up with the guy she cheated on, and she felt like karma had caught up with her: “I feel knives twisting when I see pictures of you and her/Karma was a bitch and she’s with you now.”
talk with billboardJojo Siwa said, “I want to create a new genre of music.”
“They said, ‘What do you mean?’ and I said, ‘Well, this is gay pop.'”
Despite this statement, she cited songs like Lady Gaga’s “Applause” and Miley Cyrus’ “Can’t Be Tamed” as well as her own song “Karma” as examples of what she considers gay pop music.
“I have a vision, I always have. I know what I want to be. I know where I want to go. I know the level, I know the craziness. I know what I want the world to believe,” Siwa said.
Backlash from LGBT community
Fans of LGBTQ+ artists were quick to respond to Siwa’s claims, pointing out that there was a long tradition of “gay pop” in the entertainment industry long before Siwa’s debut single “Karma.”
X User @joglo__ wrote, “Hayley Kiyoko didn’t release Girls Like Girls in 2015, whose music video still makes me cry, just because JoJo Siwa said she wanted to invent a gay pop genre.”
And @VUsherAclever wrote, “I’m sorry that Jojo Siwa’s claim that she is taking gay pop as a genre is a slap in the face to so many other artists who are doing it better”.
An X user release“This is real gay pop, jojo siwa,” referring to drag queen BeBe Zahara Benet’s performance with “Jungle Kitty.”
LGBTQ+ artists who have been performing “gay pop” include Sir Elton John, Lil Nas X, Troye Sivan, Ricky Martin, Miley Cyrus, Kim Petras, Girl in Red, MAY-A and Chappell Roan, among others.
Another X user suggested researching JoJo Siwa’s beliefs: “She was the first lesbian ever”.
Tegan and Sara silently diss JoJo Siwa
Music duo Tegan and Sara comment on Siwa’s ‘gay pop’ statement in an interview TikTok video.
Tegan and Sara Quin have identified as queer since the beginning of their careers in the ’90s. The two singer-songwriters, known for their songs “Closer” and “Where Does The Love Go,” have long been outspoken advocates for LGBTQ+ rights.
The twin sisters, who are openly gay, reacted silently to a clip from Siwa’s recent interview with Billboard. Fans appreciated the popular duo’s subtle reaction in the comments section of the TikTok video.
“Tegan and Sara coming back from the dead just to roast JoJo in silence is exactly what I needed,” one person wrote.
Another TikTok user wrote: “Wait until she hears about David Bowie.”