JoJo Siwa Defends Her ‘Black Beast’ Look, Says ‘Respected’ Stars Like Lil Nas X Called It ‘So Right’

Former “Dance Moms” star JoJo Siwa debuted a drastically different look at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday, explaining that she’s evolving to cater to an older audience.

The former reality star has been a role model for younger children for most of her career, marketing her YouTube channel, merchandise, and overall brand to pre-teens and younger girls. The 20-year-old was known for wearing oversized hair bows, brightly colored outfits, and singing bubblegum pop songs. 

Siwa stepped out at the iHeartRadio Awards dressed in all black with a revealing cut-out mesh bodysuit, combat boots, dramatic black eye makeup, and a faux mohawk. The singer said she wore the same outfit while recording her new music video for the single “Karma.”

“This is my ‘KARMA,’ black beast look,” Siwa said during a red carpet interview with E! News. “It’s got some rips in it, but you’d never know.”

When asked how she’s responding to backlash for her new, more provocative look, Siwa said, “People are afraid of things they don’t know. Things can be scary for people. New things can be very, very scary.” 

The former child star also said she has support from other celebrities in the industry, which makes her feel better about the makeover.

Siwa said, “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.'”

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She named rapper Lil Nas X and Meghan Trainor as two individuals who had vocalized their support for her new image. “Support from people like that means the world to me,” Siwa added.

The singer made it very clear that her new content was not for a younger audience. She teased the release of her latest single in March with a series of Instagram posts, writing, “Warning. The following content is not made for children and may be disturbing or offensive to some viewers. May contain sexual themes, violence, strong language, traumatic scenarios, and flashing lights. Viewer discretion is advised.”

Her Instagram page is full of images of her in the revealing black outfit and posing suggestively with another woman.