YouTube teen star JoJo Siwa comes out as gay: ‘I’m really happy’
JoJo Siwa. Image: Instagram/@itsjojosiwa
YouTube sensation JoJo Siwa came out about her sexuality with a shirt she received that declared “Best. Gay. Cousin. Ever.”
The entertainer’s tweet, posted on Friday, Jan. 22 (Jan. 23 in Manila), has amassed a staggering 1.2 million likes as of writing.
My cousin got me a new shirt pic.twitter.com/DuHhgRto7b
— JoJo Siwa!🌈❤️🎀 (@itsjojosiwa) January 22, 2021
Siwa, 17, was visibly thrilled by the support she received since coming out, as seen in her Instagram Live the next day.
“Personally, I have never, ever, ever been this happy before and it feels really awesome. I’ve been happy for a little bit now. It’s just so, so, so awesome,” she said.
She also answered some questions about her sexuality, such as what label she has decided to use.
“The reason why I’m not ready to say this answer is because I don’t really know this answer,” she said. “I think humans are awesome, I think humans are really incredible people. Right now, I’m super duper happy and I want to share everything with the world… but I also want to keep things in my life private until they are ready to be public.”
“Right now what matters is that you guys know that no matter who you love, that it’s OK. And that it’s awesome and the world is there for you,” she stressed.
She gave encouragement too to others about coming out.
“I know everyone’s situation is different and it might be harder for some people and easier for some people to come out or to be themselves but I think coming out has this stigma around it, that it’s this really, really scary thing, but it’s not anymore,” she explained. “There are so many accepting and loving people out there that it’s OK.”
“Of course people are going to say it’s not normal, but nothing is normal. Literally not one thing about anybody is normal and it’s OK not to be normal, it’s OK to be a little different, it’s OK to be a little weird, it’s OK to be a little strange,” she added. “That’s something we should never, ever be afraid of. That’s something we should be proud of and that we should celebrate.”
With regard to her parents Jesalynn and Tom Siwa’s reactions, she said, “My parents have known. My mom said she’s known for the last two years. She’s like, ‘I just know with you!’ Around two years ago, she was like, ‘I don’t think you only like boys, that’s totally OK.’ … My family is awesome.”
She concluded with a message of love: “Like my dad said, love is universal. You guys can love whoever you want to love, and you guys can do in life whatever you want to do.”
Siwa has been praised for coming out, given her young fanbase which includes over 12 million subscribers on YouTube alone.
Singer-dancer Todrick Hall told Siwa via Twitter yesterday, “Happy for you and happy for how you’re going to change the world. Children need to see this!”
Dear @itsjojosiwa I have never been more proud in my life! Happy for you and happy for how you’re going to change the world. Children need to see this! Me = crying 😭🏳️🌈
— Todrick Hall (@todrick) January 23, 2021
“[What you] did today for a generation speaks volumes about [you, JoJo],” internet personality Tana Mongeau tweeted on the same day. JB
i am so proud of u i am bawling. what u did today for a generation speaks volumes about u jojo. ily @itsjojosiwa 💜🌈 https://t.co/NevI1dhpdT
— tana mongeau (@tanamongeau) January 23, 2021
RELATED STORIES:
‘Pearl Next Door’ chosen as official entry to London International Web and Short Film Festival
