How’s it going everyone?
It’s Sussan Mourad here with Clevver News and JoJo Siwa has clapped back after being
called out by fans for allegedly using “blackface” in her latest music video.
Alright, so in case you missed it, people started questioning JoJo after the music video
for her latest single, “Nonstop,” dropped on June 19, 2020, which in case you forgot,
is Juneteenth.
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated every year on June 19th commemorating the abolition of
slavery in the United States in 1865.
So some fans were upset right off the bat that JoJo chose to upload her video that day
instead of delaying it out of respect.
The video has a Greatest Showman circus vibe with many of the dancers dressed up as animals
and other circus acts.
And fans took issue with the fact that the video featured an 11-year-old white dancer
in what appeared to be “blackface” makeup, portraying a contortionist monkey.
You can see the dancer briefly in these two clips, but she isn’t on screen for long.
So here are a couple screenshots of the dancer’s makeup for JoJo’s music video.
And here’s a picture of JoJo with the dancer, who posted, then deleted this photo with JoJo
from on set.
It’s not hard to see why a lot of people were triggered by that makeup.
People were particularly mad and concerned as just a few days before the video dropped,
JoJo took to her social media pages to show her support for the Black Lives Matter movement
writing quote, “Black lives matter.
Today they do, yesterday they did and forever they will.
As they should.
EVERYONE is equal and everyone is human.
No matter your color, size, sexuality, if you are a good person, which is ALL that matters,
I will stand by your side.
Forever.”
So many of JoJo’s fans took to Twitter to share their anger and concern about the dancer
in JoJo’s video writing quote, “why is there a little girl in blackface in jojo siwa’s
music video ??”
Another wrote quote, “ngl i was starting to stan jojo siwa but nvm bc shes deleting
comments about blm and uploaded a music vid with blackface on juneteenth”
And this person added quote, “Ummm????
@itsjojosiwa has a girl doing blackface in her new music video for #nonstop #JojoSiwaIsOverParty”
Others tried to defend JoJo writing things like “Im confused she isnt blackface she’s
dressed as a monkey?”
Which, many people pointed out, is equally offensive.
And JoJo finally took to Instagram to seemingly respond to the backlash - without specifically
mentioning the girl in her music video though, - but saying that she was blocking the haters
on social media.
JoJo shared this photo writing quote, “This is for all the people I blocked today....
peace out girl scout.
This is my instagram and anyone who is going to be mean is NOT going to be allowed on here.
People are bossing me around, telling me who to follow, what to post, what to like, what
to say, what to do, everything.
It’s not about what you do on social media it’s about what you do in real life.”
JoJo continued on saying quote, “I said it best when I was 12 “Hide behind the screen
cause their just so mean.
but we don’t play it like that, we don’t even fight back”..... and now this is for
everyone who is being kind right now.... thank you ... also side note....
People went to my DOGS instagram.
my DOG. to hate on me.
iconic!”
As we mentioned, Jojo didn’t specify if she was talking about the music video hate
in particular, but many fans were not here for this dismissive post, if it was in fact
JoJo’s response to the blackface allegations.
One person shared JoJo’s post and wrote quote, “F*CK HER SHE STANDS BEHIND PUTTING
AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL IN BASICALLY BLACKFACE MAKEUP AND ITS EVEN WORSE THAT LILLY WAS MONKEY
F*CK JOJO SIWA”
Another person chimed in saying quote, “@itsjojosiwa so, jojo?
Care to explain why you still haven't reached out to apologize about putting an eleven year
old into blackface make and then instead of apologizing, blocked everyone who commented,
including your SUPPORTERS?”
And this person simply wrote quote, “she needs to address the blackface!”
Yet others still defended JoJo writing things like “a majority of jojo’s followers likely
don’t understand blackface. and maybe she hasn’t found a way to address it yet.
i can’t speak for her.
i don’t tolerate racism in any way, but i think jojo is not racist at all.
we’re all entitled to our own interpretations.”
JoJo hasn’t spoken out again about the backlash or the music video since her last post and
the music video is still up on her YouTube channel.
We will keep you guys posted if she speaks out on this again and addresses the music
video specifically.
But for now, if you want more on JoJo Siwa, click right over here for another Clevver
News video.
And let us know down in the comments below what you think about JoJo’s response to
her fans calling her out.
I’m your host, Sussan Mourad, bye guys!