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“They’re Laughing At Her, Not With Her”: JoJo Siwa SNL Skit Sparks Bullying Concerns
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“They’re Laughing At Her, Not With Her”: JoJo Siwa SNL Skit Sparks Bullying Concerns

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A Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit parodying JoJo Siwa‘s transformation into her “bad girl” persona drew mixed reactions online, with people pointing to the inappropriateness of adults mocking a young queer artist who grew up in an abusive environment.

Impressionist Chloe Fineman transformed into the Dance Moms star during SNL’s Weekend Update segment on Saturday (May 4) along with co-anchor Colin Jost.

Highlights
  • SNL skit parodied JoJo Siwa's 'bad girl' transformation, sparking mixed reactions.
  • Viewers raised concerns about mocking a young queer artist with a challenging past.
  • Chloe Fineman impersonated JoJo in a segment that critiqued her 'gay pop' statement.

“Wow, oh my god, JoJo!” Colin exclaimed at the sight of Chloe’s JoJo impression.

“That’s right, Colin; I’m a bad girl now!” Chloe replied as she was covered in glitter, wearing leather and rocking black lipstick. 

RELATED:

    An SNL skit parodying JoJo Siwa’s “bad girl” transformation sparked debate over appropriateness

    Image credits: JoJo Siwa

    “Yeah, it’s a pretty big change. I used to be way more sparkles, and now, I’m black sparkles,” the 35-year-old comedian added.

    At some point, Chloe retorted: “I look like if a figure skater joined a street gang,” as the 41-year-old host joked: “I was gonna say [you look like] if Mad Max was on Broadway.”

    Chloe continued: “Does it scare you, Colin? 

    “Does a former child star looking like this scare you?”

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    Image credits: itsjojosiwa

    The Father of the Bride actress went on to whip out a pack of candy smokes before claiming she “does cigarettes” now.

    She went on to take a dig at JoJo’s now-infamous interview where the 20-year-old said she had invented a new genre called “gay pop,” which she later apologized for.

    “I’m 20, and I’m gay! I’m the first gay girl in the world! Bet you never met a gay girl before!” Chloe mocked.

    Some viewers highlighted concerns about mocking a young queer artist with a troubled past

    Image credits: E! News

    “JoJo, you were quoted as saying you invented a new genre of music,” Colin remarked, to which the comedian answered: “That’s right, gay pop!” 

    “That’s maybe just ‘pop,’” Colin went on to say.

    The skit, which has now gone viral on social media, sparked divided reactions, with some interpreting the number as a form of bullying.

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    Image credits: Saturday Night Live

    SNL still leaves a bad taste in my mouth,” a person wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

    They continued: “I can’t fully point out why but for this? 

    “It’s a bit horrid knowing Jojo Siwa grew up in an abusive environment, is very sheltered, and doesn’t really know what a normal life is then she gets picked on for like having an annoying dance thing.”

    The skit featured Chloe Fineman impersonating JoJo and Colin Jost

    Image credits: Saturday Night Live

    Another X user commented: “I really hope Jojo Siwa knows we (especially that SNL skit) are laughing at her and NOT with her.”

    Someone else penned: “More articles should be written because this is not ok, this girl has been bullied since she was a child and now receiving extra hate and for being herself.”

    JoJo was about nine years old when she appeared in Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition with her mom.

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    Image credits: itsjojosiwa

    The 20-year-old dancer’s appearance on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition led to her being cast on Dance Moms, further catapulting her to fame for being the bow-wearing, high-energy pop sensation.

    Dance Moms often displayed a toxic environment where the young cast members were the subject of verbally abusive behavior from dance coach Abby Lee Miller, in addition to extreme competitive pressure. 

    In recent years, older footage of the Lifetime reality TV show showed that JoJo’s mother, Jessalynn Siwa, had been bleaching her daughter’s hair blonde since she was only two years old.

    The 20-year-old dancer’s appearance on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition led to her being cast on Dance Moms

    Image credits: Billboard

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    In a 2020 interview with Variety, JoJo opened up about the “worst day in her career.” 

    She recalled: “After I was the top meme in October, with people criticizing my hairline and saying I’m a giant toddler, I went to Knott’s Scary Farm, and people were being awful. 

    “All these teenagers were, like, ‘JoJo Siwa, F you! Go home.’ 

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    “All night long people were shouting things at me. 

    “So I just thought teenagers don’t like me. And I am one! 

    “But I didn’t have any teenage friends, and I do now.”

    Image credits: XOMG POP!

    Despite some concerns spreading on social media as a result of the SNL skit, JoJo appeared to react positively, as she reshared the segment on her Instagram story over the weekend.

    The performer wrote: “Iconic. I literally don’t know what to say. 

    “This is f—— crazy. 

    “3-and-a-half-minute skit on SNL…”

    You can watch the SNL skit below:

    The Nebraska native debuted a completely new look last month, promoting her Karma song on the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards red carpet.

    Her new sense of fashion has often been ridiculed online. Nevertheless, JoJo discussed her new music and her “transition” to adulthood, explaining: “I’ve seen people before me make this transition, 

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    “I’ve seen how much I loved it, and I’ve seen also how much the world has criticized us, so I am ready for that.”

    SNL viewers were left divided over the JoJo Siwa skit

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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    Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

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    Donata Leskauskaite

    Donata Leskauskaite

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

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    xolitaire
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What does it matter that she is queer? Or that she has a "troubled past"? They are making fun of the song/video and her way of marketing it. That's all. And that is indeed very cringe. Jojo talking about how she "invented" a new style of music and how no former child star has gone through a transformation like she has? Please girl, others went through hell so that you can copy Kiss.

    EmAdoresHerKats🇮🇪🇵🇸🇩🇿
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They bring that up every time someone is being critiqued or made fun of. You cant do that because they're queer, bad childhood, married to someone, dressing differently, didn't know any better, apologised, the list is endless. It's only free speech and freedom of expression when it's something they agree with. After that it's awful and should be banned

    Load More Replies...
    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    7 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It isn't bullying, it's satire, and if you don't want to be discussed, step out of public life. They didn't mock her for anything that isn't a choice. She wasn't mocked for sexualtiy or gender, just for artistic choices and dumb things she said. What did she expect? You'd think she'd be overjoyed at being rated relevant enough for an impersonation on SNL.

    UKGrandad
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    JoJo enjoyed the skit and shows no signs of being offended, so people are basically telling her that they know better than she does and are getting all offended on her behalf? Proxy offence taking? What the f*ck is wrong with people?

    Load More Comments
    xolitaire
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What does it matter that she is queer? Or that she has a "troubled past"? They are making fun of the song/video and her way of marketing it. That's all. And that is indeed very cringe. Jojo talking about how she "invented" a new style of music and how no former child star has gone through a transformation like she has? Please girl, others went through hell so that you can copy Kiss.

    EmAdoresHerKats🇮🇪🇵🇸🇩🇿
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They bring that up every time someone is being critiqued or made fun of. You cant do that because they're queer, bad childhood, married to someone, dressing differently, didn't know any better, apologised, the list is endless. It's only free speech and freedom of expression when it's something they agree with. After that it's awful and should be banned

    Load More Replies...
    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    7 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It isn't bullying, it's satire, and if you don't want to be discussed, step out of public life. They didn't mock her for anything that isn't a choice. She wasn't mocked for sexualtiy or gender, just for artistic choices and dumb things she said. What did she expect? You'd think she'd be overjoyed at being rated relevant enough for an impersonation on SNL.

    UKGrandad
    Community Member
    7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    JoJo enjoyed the skit and shows no signs of being offended, so people are basically telling her that they know better than she does and are getting all offended on her behalf? Proxy offence taking? What the f*ck is wrong with people?

    Load More Comments
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