In less than a year, Dance Moms alum JoJo Siwa has gone from kiddie bopper pop star to coming out as queer on TikTok to going through a breakup and making Grease gay on Dancing With The Stars.
It’s been quite a journey for the 18-year-old, who’s become a household name not only among the expected demographic of kids whose parents won’t let them listen to “explicit” music. In fact, Siwa has become as much a part of the queer canon as Kristen Stewart or Janelle Monáe. As her turn on DWTS airs, Siwa is more than ready to take on the mantle.
Every week for “The Buzz,” we catch you up on what you missed in queer culture that week. This week, we’re checking in on Siwa, Kristen Stewart’s best films, DC’s first Black trans Amazon and Jamie Lee Curtis being a kick-ass mom.
→Let me start here: Is it sort of cheating for JoJo Siwa to compete on Dancing With The Stars? Yes—the girl literally became famous on a show called Dance Moms. DWTS is where you go to see B-list celebrities and former NFL players fumble around to pop songs, not bendy youths who have been doing that for years.
But is JoJo Siwa competing on DWTS one of the greatest things to happen in lesbian culture this year? Also yes. The TikToker/pop star/former child of reality TV/noted bow-wearer made headlines a few months ago when she said she would have a same-sex dance partner while competing on the show, a first in the history of DWTS. And since its season premiere, Siwa and her partner, Jenna Johnson, have lit up the dance floor.
We’ve gotten a hot tango to a Britney Spears song.
Then they gave us lesbian Disney prince realness.
And queer-coded Grease!
And for a Halloween week take on It, Siwa somehow turned Pennywise into a gay icon, dancing to a jazz remix of the Broadway hit “Anything Goes,” which I’ll have you know was a VERY formative song for young queer me.
Anyway, it may be a bit of cheating that Siwa is on the show, but ultimately it’s good for the culture. Dance on JoJo, dance on!
→Speaking of the young Miss Siwa: apparently she’s single and ready to mingle after recently splitting with her girlfriend of nine months, Kylie.
“I am missing a piece of me that is the biggest piece of me,” Siwa said during a recent red carpet appearance.
If we know anything about queer women though, the 18-year-old will surely have many more loves to come. Where’s the Gen Z version of Cara Delevingne to go make out with Siwa on a yacht when you need her?
→Also Lil Nas X apparently broke up with Shrek. RIP to my OTP.
→Eternals will feature Marvel’s first gay superhero, and director Chloe Zhao is pushing to make sure the film isn’t censored overseas.
→Also in the comics world, a new Wonder Woman comic has introduced a Black trans Amazon to the world. In the latest issue of Nubia & The Amazons from DC Comics, Bia is introduced as a canonically trans Amazon.
→Jamie Lee Curtis and her daughter Ruby gave a touching interview about Ruby’s transition and how Curtis has adapted as a parent.
“I am here to support Ruby. That is my job. Just as it is to care and love and support her older sister Annie in her journeys. I’m a grateful student. I’m learning so much from Ruby,” Curtis said.
→Kristen Stewart says she’s only made “five really good films” throughout her career. If you ask me, they’re obviously Twilight and its four sequels (though Happiest Season is a solid number six).
→If KStew’s Christmas movie isn’t to your taste, there are several others on the sked for you to get your jingle bells in a knot for.
→ Australian soccer player Josh Cavallo came out as gay, and shared this incredibly tender and emotional video.
→Peloton queers rejoice! The fitness company is dropping an Elton John artist feature, so you can be hopping and bopping to “Crocodile Rock” like there’s no tomorrow.
→Ruby Rose alleges she was fired from Batwoman after getting injured on set in unsafe working conditions. Warner Brothers TV alleges she was fired because she was difficult to work with.
→Remember a few weeks back when it was announced that Superman’s son would be queer? Apparently DC Comics is seeing an unprecedented amount of pre-orders for the issue in question.
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