“They’re Laughing At Her, Not With Her”: JoJo Siwa SNL Skit Sparks Bullying Concerns
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.
- 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.
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?”
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.
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.
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
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.’
“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,
“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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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.
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...
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.
NOT making fun of her cluelessness would have been cringe. People didn’t spare Jennifer Lawrence when she claimed to be the first female action hero, nor Billie Eilish when she claimed that men are never body shamed. She’s trying to be a public figure; being called on idiotic statements is fair game.
When did poking fun of celebrities on SNL become controversial? They weren't promoting hate, just laughing at someone doing and saying something ridiculous. Check the rest of the material, it's much the same. Many other shows are available if you don't like their brand of humor.
If you don't want to be mocked for a silly outfit, either don't wear the silly outfit, don't go in public with it/post about it or just don't be famous enough where people care. She does this to be in the spotlight (her career is not doing that well) and everyone knows you never only get positive feedback. Bad publicity is publicity too, so I'm sure she's fine with this.
She's 20, not a child, and she's trying to stay famous. Completely in bounds for SNL to make a skit.
I find it curious that it is remarked that the “victim” of the imitation is queer. But if SNL has had and has in the current cast LGTBI+ actors!!!!. For God's sake, it's a parody show And they will start asking for the cancellation of the actress and the scriptwriters and the program. .
Agreed. And anyone complaining NOW about queer humor on SNL has never seen an episode of SNL. I defy anyone to find a single episode of SNL in the past 30 years that doesn’t have at least one skit with queer humor. It doesn’t exist.
Load More Replies...
I get that she’s no idea the shoulders of giants she stands on who did so much so she could be who she is today, which is clueless & cringe, but no one is making fun of her her or bullying her for that. Instead, she’s hopefully being educated that she can come out thanks to many before her and she can contribute to queer music thanks to so many other artists. However, she is clearly going through a “villain in a Disney on Ice production” phase and that’s something that can and should be satirized. As poorly done as it was, that’s what SNL did.
they're not making fun of her being lgbtq, nor her past, they're making fun of the song and her whole "transformation" into a "bad girl" which IS incredibly cringey and godawful. she's also just not a nice person, she's buddies with people like colleen ballinger ffs.
Had to look up who she is. Now I know why I never heard of her. The media promotes these no talent useless people.
I think any subject is ripe for comedy but the more sensitive the material the funnier you need to be, with wit, timing and an ability to let your audience know that you are coming from a good place, not stoking hatred and jeering. ... Unfortunately SNL only does 'lowest common denominator comedy - think pie to the face or knock knock jokes... funny, but not very, and definitely puerile.
Give me a break. She is not a child anymore. People need to stop being so f*****g sensitive all of the time. Famous people are mocked all of the time. Get over it.
JoJo may be a public figure, and her outfit change may look silly, but, it's 100% unnecessary for SNL to mock her. For one thing, the outfit thing happened a couple weeks ago. Why now? Writers can't come up with anything else? It seems like SNL isn't able to come up with original material anymore. It's just one long show on politics and current events. No need to mock a girl who may be a little out there, but, hasn't created any sort of big issues, no crimes, etc.
All of SNL is 100% unnecessary, it's a comedy show, not actual source of news. There are plenty of bad sketches and jokes, even with the best casts. Are you getting as upset for the jokes about police? Or Phil Simms? Just cause jokes aren't top tier funny doesn't make them bullying. If you're going to promote yourself as a weird celebrity, it's ok for people to laugh at it.
Load More Replies...
Didn't even know who it was, thought it was Chloe or one of the other SNL regulars in costume. Stupid skit.
SNL does, and should, make fun of everything and everyone. Why should anyone be so special they're not fair game? Now THAT'S "privilege", demanding to be omitted.
People don't deserve to be mocked, unless they did something bad to deserve it. We have enough mental issues in our world already. There's no need to trigger even more of them.
She was mocked for fashion choices and for thinking she invented gay pop, and those are well deserved. She wasn't mocked for being queer or any other inherent characteristic.
Load More Replies...
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.
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... 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.
NOT making fun of her cluelessness would have been cringe. People didn’t spare Jennifer Lawrence when she claimed to be the first female action hero, nor Billie Eilish when she claimed that men are never body shamed. She’s trying to be a public figure; being called on idiotic statements is fair game.
When did poking fun of celebrities on SNL become controversial? They weren't promoting hate, just laughing at someone doing and saying something ridiculous. Check the rest of the material, it's much the same. Many other shows are available if you don't like their brand of humor.
If you don't want to be mocked for a silly outfit, either don't wear the silly outfit, don't go in public with it/post about it or just don't be famous enough where people care. She does this to be in the spotlight (her career is not doing that well) and everyone knows you never only get positive feedback. Bad publicity is publicity too, so I'm sure she's fine with this.
She's 20, not a child, and she's trying to stay famous. Completely in bounds for SNL to make a skit.
I find it curious that it is remarked that the “victim” of the imitation is queer. But if SNL has had and has in the current cast LGTBI+ actors!!!!. For God's sake, it's a parody show And they will start asking for the cancellation of the actress and the scriptwriters and the program. .
Agreed. And anyone complaining NOW about queer humor on SNL has never seen an episode of SNL. I defy anyone to find a single episode of SNL in the past 30 years that doesn’t have at least one skit with queer humor. It doesn’t exist.
Load More Replies... I get that she’s no idea the shoulders of giants she stands on who did so much so she could be who she is today, which is clueless & cringe, but no one is making fun of her her or bullying her for that. Instead, she’s hopefully being educated that she can come out thanks to many before her and she can contribute to queer music thanks to so many other artists. However, she is clearly going through a “villain in a Disney on Ice production” phase and that’s something that can and should be satirized. As poorly done as it was, that’s what SNL did.
they're not making fun of her being lgbtq, nor her past, they're making fun of the song and her whole "transformation" into a "bad girl" which IS incredibly cringey and godawful. she's also just not a nice person, she's buddies with people like colleen ballinger ffs.
Had to look up who she is. Now I know why I never heard of her. The media promotes these no talent useless people.
I think any subject is ripe for comedy but the more sensitive the material the funnier you need to be, with wit, timing and an ability to let your audience know that you are coming from a good place, not stoking hatred and jeering. ... Unfortunately SNL only does 'lowest common denominator comedy - think pie to the face or knock knock jokes... funny, but not very, and definitely puerile.
Give me a break. She is not a child anymore. People need to stop being so f*****g sensitive all of the time. Famous people are mocked all of the time. Get over it.
JoJo may be a public figure, and her outfit change may look silly, but, it's 100% unnecessary for SNL to mock her. For one thing, the outfit thing happened a couple weeks ago. Why now? Writers can't come up with anything else? It seems like SNL isn't able to come up with original material anymore. It's just one long show on politics and current events. No need to mock a girl who may be a little out there, but, hasn't created any sort of big issues, no crimes, etc.
All of SNL is 100% unnecessary, it's a comedy show, not actual source of news. There are plenty of bad sketches and jokes, even with the best casts. Are you getting as upset for the jokes about police? Or Phil Simms? Just cause jokes aren't top tier funny doesn't make them bullying. If you're going to promote yourself as a weird celebrity, it's ok for people to laugh at it.
Load More Replies... Didn't even know who it was, thought it was Chloe or one of the other SNL regulars in costume. Stupid skit.
SNL does, and should, make fun of everything and everyone. Why should anyone be so special they're not fair game? Now THAT'S "privilege", demanding to be omitted.
People don't deserve to be mocked, unless they did something bad to deserve it. We have enough mental issues in our world already. There's no need to trigger even more of them.
She was mocked for fashion choices and for thinking she invented gay pop, and those are well deserved. She wasn't mocked for being queer or any other inherent characteristic.
Load More Replies... 
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