Jojo Siwa accuses Nickelodeon of 'blackballing' her after coming out as queer, network hits back at claim
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jojo Siwa has accused Nickelodeon of "blackballing" her after she came out as LGBTQ+ in 2021, a claim the network has since disputed.
In an upcoming Hulu documentary titled 'Child Star,' Siwa, 21, will reveal her experience following her public coming out. Directed by Demi Lovato and Nicola Marsh, the documentary is set to premiere on September 17.
Nickelodeon denies Jojo Siwa's 'blackballed' claims
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Siwa shared that Nickelodeon President Brian Robbins called her after her announcement, asking, “What are we going to tell the kids?”
At the time, Siwa, who was 17, responded, “That I'm happy?” This interaction is central to her claims of being sidelined by the network following her revelation.
The Los Angeles resident also claimed that Robbins instructed her to contact her retail partners, such as Target and Claire's, to reassure them that she was “not going crazy.”
Siwa, 21, said her relationship with the network deteriorated rapidly after her coming out, leading her to feel ostracized.
Nickelodeon has responded to these allegations, with a spokesperson telling the Daily Mail, “We are unaware of the incident JoJo is referencing and she was certainly not blackballed by Nickelodeon.”
The network emphasized their support for Siwa throughout their partnership, including the launch of a JoJo-themed Pride collection at a major retailer. “We continue to cheer her on and wish her nothing but the best,” the spokesperson added.
In April 2022, Jojo Siwa also made headlines with her claim of being left out of the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, intensifying her ongoing issues with the network.
Jojo Siwa comes out as gay
The American singer, dancer, actress, and media personality first joined Nickelodeon in 2017 at the age of 13, appearing in various projects like 'Jojo Siwa: My World' and the 2018 TV movie 'Blurt.'
In January 2021, she publicly came out as queer, wearing a shirt that read 'BEST. GAY. COUSIN. EVER' and sharing a TikTok lip-syncing to Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way.'
A few months later, Siwa opened up about her journey to understand her sexuality in an interview with People.
She admitted she was still exploring her identity, saying, “I still don't know what I am. It's like, I want to figure it out.” She discussed terms like bisexual, pansexual, queer, and lesbian, ultimately embracing the term "queer" as it felt the most fitting.
“Technically I would say that I am pansexual because that's how I have always been my whole life is just like, my human is my human,” she added.
Despite the controversy with Nickelodeon, Siwa expressed immense gratitude for the support she has received.
Reflecting on her personal happiness, she said, “I think this is the first time that I've felt so personally happy. I am so proud to be me.”
Now, the upcoming Hulu documentary promises to dive deep into the lives of former child stars, including Drew Barrymore, Kenan Thompson, Christina Ricci, and Raven-Symoné.
Directed by Demi Lovato in her directorial debut, the film will explore their journeys and experiences transitioning from young fame to adulthood in the entertainment industry.
