JoJo Siwa is in a new era, and she doesn’t care what critics have to say.
“People are afraid of things they don’t know,” Siwa told E! News on the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2024 red carpet Monday night. “Things can be scary for people. New things can be very, very scary.”
The 20 year old recently ditched her staple high ponytail, glitter bows and neon clothing for a drastic new look that was certainly frightening; she donned a racy black and silver ensemble with sheer and fishnet cutouts, combat boots and a faux hawk hairstyle.
The “So You Think You Can Dance” judge also showed up with black face paint, resembling a member of KISS or perhaps a WWE superstar.
Siwa’s new look — which she dubbed her “black beast look” — comes as she debuts her more adult single, “Karma,” in which she curses and wears a nude illusion catsuit as well as the same iHeartRadio Music Awards catsuit.
Fans weren’t accepting of the new look. “Someone tell jojo siwa she will never have a bangerz moment,” another commented, referring to Miley Cyrus’ transition from child star to adult musician.
“Remember when everyone was like, someday Jojo Siwa is gonna get tired of having her brand be a grown adult toddler and she’s gonna do her version of post-Disney overcorrection rebellion… well…” a critic wrote.
Others likened her to a “WWE diva” or a member of a heavy metal band.
“Someone just said jojo siwa looks like goldust and Im f—king crying,” a commenter said, comparing Siwa to former WWE star Dustin Rhodes.
“jojo siwa getting ready for her wrestlemania debut,” another said on a video of Siwa pumping up the crowd before the event.
“Why does jojo siwa look like she just debuted as the latest wwe villain,” one fan wrote on X.
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While she has received online pushback for her new music and clothes, the “Dance Moms” alum says that she doesn’t care. “Creating art is such a special, special thing,” she said. “I’m very lucky that I get to be one of the people in the world that gets to create art.”
She added that positive encouragement from artists like Lil Nas X and Meghan Trainor has encouraged her to continue making music and continuing to discover her adult brand.
“The way that I’m able to keep going and keep being like, ‘Wait, actually what I’m doing is right’ is because some of the most respected people in the world have come up to me and been like, ‘What you’re doing right now is so right. It is what the world needs, and I’m learning from what you are doing right now,’” Siwa said.