JoJo Siwa, the 21-year-old singer and former Dance Moms star, has found herself at the center of an online debate following a series of photos from her recent photoshoot with LADYGUNN Magazine. The photos, which Siwa shared on her Instagram page, showcase her in a sparkly gold sequined crop top and matching underwear. While striking various poses, some commenters noticed an apparent bulge in the crotch area, leading to the use of the term "moose knuckle" in negative comments.
Social media users expressed mixed reactions. While some criticized Siwa for the revealing outfit, others defended her right to express herself creatively. "This is weird to look at, I can't quite explain why. But I don't like it," wrote one user. Another commented, "I feel jojo has really lost her ways and doesn't know her own identity." Some, however, were more supportive, with one fan saying, "The 'Karma' songstress Leaves Social Media Users Annoyed With Her New Pictures' is a bit harsh." Many pointed out that she was simply embracing her new image and creating buzz around her work.
The controversy highlights the challenges faced by child stars transitioning into adulthood, as fans grapple with their evolving image. Siwa's bold transformation, from a bubbly teen with colorful hair bows to a more edgy and provocative performer, has left some questioning her motivations. Some see her as a victim of bad management, while others believe she is strategically pushing boundaries and maximizing her attention-grabbing potential.
Attention Whore or Strategic Rebrand?
In her interview with Ladygunn, Siwa explained that she's well aware of the fact that people make fun of her bold and carefree outlook. Calling herself an “attention w***e,” she said, “My favourite thing to do on this earth is to entertain and to make people smile and laugh, whether or not they are laughing with me or laughing at me. Obviously, no one likes being hated, but I enjoy being entertaining, and that is how people are entertained.”
This isn't the first time Siwa has courted controversy with her bold fashion choices. Earlier this year, she attended the iHeart Radio Music Awards in the same outfit she wore in her "Karma" music video, which many fans thought she stole from KISS’s iconic black-and-white full-face makeup. The band’s Gene Simmons told TMZ at the time that he liked the outfit and anyone who didn’t was likely “jealous” of Siwa.
In an interview with E! News at the awards show, Siwa admitted that the judgment was likely only coming from people who are “scared of change.” “People are afraid of things they don’t know,” she told the outlet on the red carpet. “Things can be scary for people. New things can be very, very scary.”
Siwa's controversial attire featured an embellished corset top featuring nipples and built-in abs. She paired the sparkly top with a matching codpiece. Some social media users voiced concern, wondering if Siwa was genuinely embracing this new, edgier persona or if it was a calculated move by her management team.
Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Fame
Siwa's transformation has been a long time coming. She first found fame in the mid-2010s while appearing on Dance Moms as a young teen alongside her mother, Jessalynn Sita. In 2017, Siwa signed to Nickelodeon and acted in various shows and films on the kids’ network before rebranding herself this year as an “edgy” pop star with the release of her first single, “Karma.”
This rebranding has been met with mixed results. Some fans applaud Siwa's willingness to challenge expectations and explore her creative side. But some, particularly those who grew up with Siwa's earlier Nickelodeon image, struggle to reconcile her old persona with her new edginess. The Ladygunn photoshoot, for example, was met with some fans saying, "I feel jojo has really lost her ways and doesn't know her own identity" while others defended her, saying, "don’t hate me for saying this but i think she ate."
Beyond the Controversy
Whether Siwa's bold choices are a calculated strategy or a genuine expression of her evolving self, one thing is clear: she has the attention of the internet. She’s a testament to the complex nature of celebrity and the challenges faced by child stars trying to carve their own paths as they grow up in the public eye. The controversy surrounding her recent photoshoot may be a blip in the ever-evolving landscape of her career, but it certainly serves as a reminder that the line between artistic expression and shock value can sometimes be blurry.
It's a game she’s played before. In her interview with Ladygunn, Siwa said she draws inspiration from YouTubers like Jake and Logan Paul, whose "genius" marketing strategies she admires. “I pulled so much of my social media marketing and inspiration from them back in the day,” she said. “Their views, their numbers, their marketing — they were geniuses. They still are geniuses … all I wanted to do was be them. And so I figured, ‘How can I do that but in my world?'”
Whether she's a genius or simply a master of controversy, JoJo Siwa is a force to be reckoned with. She has certainly carved a new path for herself, one paved with glitter, sequins, and a whole lot of attention.
