Jojo Siwa claims Nickelodeon ‘blackballed’ her after she came out as queer three years ago… as network HITS back
As I reflect upon Jojo Siwa’s journey, my heart swells with admiration for this young woman who has embraced her truth fearlessly. Her story is a powerful testament to the strength and resilience that can be found when one stands up for oneself. It’s a reminder that we all have the power to choose authenticity over conformity, and it’s never too late to shine brightly in our own unique way.
Jojo Siwa has stated that Nickelodeon may have intentionally avoided working with her following her public disclosure of being part of the LGBTQ+ community in 2021, an assertion which Nickelodeon denies.
Previously on Dance Moms, a cast member aged 21, set to discuss her experiences in an upcoming Hulu documentary called Child Star, disclosed the reaction she got from the network when she came out publicly about her identity three years prior, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
I can hardly contain my excitement as I eagerly count down the days! The highly-anticipated project, brilliantly directed by none other than Demi Lovato and Nicola Marsh, will grace our screens on a streaming site next month, specifically on September 17th. Can’t wait to immerse myself in this masterpiece!
Siwa shared that she got a phone call from Brian Robbins, the head of Nickelodeon, who inquired about what they should convey to the children.
To answer your query, the Karma singer (being 17 years old then) mentioned that he said, “Am I happy?” to him.
As a devoted follower, I was instructed by Robbins to contact the retailers we had established partnerships with – like Target and Claire’s – and inform them, “I’m not losing my mind.”
Following her public announcement, the celebrity expressed that her bond with the media conglomerate swiftly transformed. In essence, she felt ostracized or unofficially banned from the corporation.
Nevertheless, Nickelodeon denies JoJo Siwa’s allegations. A representative from Nickelodeon stated to DailyMail.com on Wednesday that they are unfamiliar with the situation JoJo mentioned, and it is untrue that she was barred from Nickelodeon.
Throughout our highly productive collaboration with JoJo, we’ve consistently appreciated and boosted her. One of the highlights was a line dedicated to JoJo, themed around Pride, that we launched at a prominent national retailer. This is just one example of the numerous projects we’ve worked on together.
‘We continue to cheer her on and wish her nothing but the best,’ the statement concluded.
13-year-old Siwa secured a contract with Nickelodeon in 2017, which allowed her to participate in various productions, including “Jojo Siwa: My World” and the 2018 TV film titled “Blurt.”
In January 2021, she publicly announced her queer identity on social media, donning a shirt bearing the phrase ‘BEST. GAY. COUSIN. EVER.’
She also lip-synced to Lady Gaga’s hit track, Born This Way, in a TikTok video shared at the time.
A few months passed, and she shared with People that she was hesitant to define her sexuality, expressing, “I’m still discovering who I am. I’m trying to understand myself better.”
As someone who identifies as queer, I understand the confusion that can come with labeling one’s sexual orientation. Growing up, I didn’t have many resources or role models to help me navigate my identity, and so I found myself using terms like “gay” and “queer” interchangeably. While “gay” is a term that I feel comfortable using to describe my romantic and sexual attractions, I also appreciate the inclusivity and rebelliousness associated with the word “queer.” However, my life experiences have taught me that labels can be limiting, and it’s important to remember that everyone’s journey is unique. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to choose the words that best represent their identity and make them feel seen and understood.
In simpler terms, Siwa stated, “I identify as pansexual because I’ve always felt this way. To me, a person is a person, regardless of their gender.”
Later on, I couldn’t help but express my gratitude for the incredible support I’ve been receiving, and admitted, ‘This feels like the very first time I’ve experienced such profound personal happiness.’
‘Performing has always made me super happy. But for the first time, personally, I am like, whoa, happiness. I am so proud to be me.’
In March of last year, it appeared that the media figure made a subtle criticism of the network, while also recalling Nickelodeon’s handling of her announcement about her sexual orientation.
As a devoted admirer of Megan Trainor’s music, I captured myself performing a lip-sync to her hit track, “Mother.” In the description, I penned, ‘Inspired by a true tale. (Side note: if we met today, I would just hit play on this song…).”
Jojo similarly expressed, back in January 2021, “I will publicly reveal myself. My employer required an urgent meeting with me immediately.”
In our recent gathering, the company’s president posed a question to me: “How would I address our youthful audience?”
After taking ‘a second to process what I was just asked,’ the star revealed that she simply responded with, ‘The truth.’
The star from Dance Moms commented further by saying, “I’ve never witnessed a man roll his eyes so far into the back of his head in response to my reply.”
Siwa made it clear that she had no desire to conceal her true identity, and found out that the president disapproved of this quite strongly.
After gaining backing from members of the LGBTQ+ community and her supporters, she believed she had acted appropriately.
In April 2022, Jojo stated that she wasn’t asked to attend the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards that same year.
She posted on Instagram, ‘Many of you have inquired about my absence from the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards tonight. I wouldn’t want anybody to misunderstand; I wasn’t given an invitation, unfortunately:(‘
Currently, a representative from Nickelodeon stated to DailyMail.com that they are not aware of the specific event or discussion JoJo seems to be referring to, but it definitely didn’t take place within Nickelodeon.
From the very beginning of our connection with JoJo, we’ve consistently placed a high value on her and provided unwavering support. That remains true even up until now.
I’m thrilled to share that the forthcoming Hulu documentary, marking my directorial debut, boasts a stellar cast of fellow child stars. Among them are Drew Barrymore, Kenan Thompson, Christina Ricci, and Raven-Symoné. It promises to be an enlightening journey as we navigate our shared experiences in the entertainment industry.
Demi Lovato will talk to famous personalities about their experiences and explore their lives following their time in show business as young talents.
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2024-08-15 01:04