Meme Monday: Does JoJo Siwa deserve the hate?
A look into the anti-Siwanators
It’s time for a special edition of the newsletter where I highlight a trending meme. If you’re new, you can subscribe here and follow me on X or Threads. Views are my own. Happy reading.
What is the meme?
This is not so much a “meme” as a “person-who-is-getting-memed-on.”
Who is in the meme?
JoJo Siwa, known for being on “Dance Moms,” Nickelodeon, and “Dancing With The Stars.” You might also know her from her over-the-top bows.
When did the “meme” pop up?
JoJo launched her personal rebrand at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on April 1 with KISS-esque makeup and costuming, accompanied by the release of her song “Karma.” She warned of its adult themes. JoJo told The New York Times, “No one’s going to be like, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing…It’s not designed for people to say that. It’s designed for people to say, ‘What?’ ‘Why?’ ‘Huh?’”
In an interview with Billboard, the 20-year-old said she wanted to start a “new genre of music” called “gay pop,” drawing ire from online audiences over her claim to the genre. She’s also come under fire for her relationship with controversial YouTubers like James Charles and Colleen Ballinger.
Why is the meme?
JoJo was 11-years-old when she first appeared on “Dance Moms.” I think what makes her is interesting is that she didn’t get into Hollywood as an actress – she got into it as herself. Or, at least, acting like herself.
“So who is JoJo Siwa now? It seems an unfair question to pose to someone still too young to legally buy a beer.” - NYT, JoJo Siwa Grows Up. (Or tries to.)
I think it would be diminishing to reduce JoJo to her public-facing brand. Didn’t we do the same to Drake Bell? The dialogue around child stars is at a peak, and you know what they say about assuming. JoJo has grown up under intense scrutiny, forced into a pink, glittery reputation. Now, she wants to pivot.
I’m not saying we should excuse egotism or associations with known predators, but it’s fascinating to think about JoJo as a product of her upbringing in the starlight. Perhaps she’s had to stand by her decisions as a defensive mechanism, preferring to live in delusion rather than break character. She’s generated media attention since she was little, and she’s still doing just that.
