Saturday, June 27, 2020

JoJo Siwa Addresses 'Awful' Blackface Allegations After 'Nonstop' Music Video Sparks Backlash

JoJo Siwa is speaking out.


On Friday, June 26, internet users criticized the 17-year-old Nickelodeon star and social media phenomenon for featuring a young dancer in the music video for "Nonstop" who appears to be wearing brown facial makeup and monkey ears. In the circus-themed visual, which was released on June 19, the day Juneteenth is honored, JoJo performs alongside a number of dancers dressed in various animal costumes.

The comments on the YouTube video were turned off after some compared the dancer's makeup to blackface. Others also claimed they were blocked by JoJo for scrutinizing the music video.

"When is @itsjojosiwa going to address the little girl in blackface in her latest music video?" one user tweeted. Another added, "...it's safe to say white privilege and ignorance is what she chooses to use her platform towards millions of kids for."

JoJo shared a lengthy statement in response, which read in part, "I would like to address the music video that we shot for ‘NONSTOP' in February. We're talking about kids dressing up as circus animals! No one in my video is wearing blackface. It's awful that anyone's mind would even go there. Kids dressing in animal costumes, having their faces painted to look like animals, acting the part."

The Dance Moms alum continued, "I've addressed Black Lives Matter issues previously on my social media, I will say it again for the ones in the back, Black Lives Matter, today, tomorrow, yesterday and forever. I'm on the right side of history here. Stop trying to make this about something it isn't."

"I love my real fans and am so grateful for their love and support. Instead of trying to drag everyone down, let's be positive and come back like a boomerang."

JoJo also addressed a recent Instagram post in which she denounced "mean" comments left on her page. Some fans assumed this was JoJo's response to the blackface accusations, however she insists that wasn't the case.

View this post on Instagram

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. 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❤️! I really do see your posts, I really do read your captions, and I really do appreciate them. More than you know.❤️ also side note.... People went to my DOGS instagram. my DOG. to hate on me. iconic! 🐶

A post shared by JoJo Siwa (@itsjojosiwa) on


"I need to set the record straight about a few things because some have been irresponsible in recent stories and posts about me, and everyone seems to rush to conclusions without having all of the facts," she wrote. "My Instagram post yesterday had absolutely nothing to do with the criticism I received on my music video ‘NONSTOP.'"

Instead, the teen said she blocked and unfollowed certain accounts because she "was tired of seeing the personal hate on me."

"Some people will do anything for attention and that includes being mean. People were sending me really horrible and disgusting messages about my appearance, my sexuality, my content, and overall just being hateful," Siwa explained.

On June 1, Siwa publicly expressed support for the Black Lives Matter, writing on Instagram, "For the last 17 years of my life I have been taught to love and support everyone, and now that is something that I try and teach the new generation of kids everyday... No matter your color, size, sexuality, if you are a good person, which is ALL that matters, I will stand by your side."

“I didn’t do anything that needs an apology,” she wrote on Twitter Friday evening after releasing her statement, “this is me clearing things up.”

Sources: E! News, Page Six.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Have your say by leaving a comment below! NickALive! welcomes friendly and respectful comments. Please familiarize with the blog's Comment Policy before commenting. All new comments are moderated and won't appear straight away.