JoJo Siwa denies blackface accusations in Nonstop music video

29 June 2020, 15:25

Jojo Siwa debuts new brown hair on TikTok

By Jazmin Duribe

"Stop trying to make this about something it isn’t."

JoJo Siwa has defended her 'NONSTOP' music video after people have accused one of the dancers of wearing blackface.

JoJo released the circus-themed video for 'NONSTOP' earlier this month, complete with dancers dressed as animals performing in a big-top tent. One of the white dancers, 12-year-old Lilliana Ketchman, was dressed as a monkey, wearing dark brown face makeup and ears.

READ MORE: JoJo Siwa has dyed her hair brown and the internet is losing it

Over the weekend, the singer started receiving "really horrible and disgusting messages" on Instagram and Twitter, with fans accusing JoJo of putting Lilliana in blackface.

JoJo denied that the model's makeup was racially-motivated and released a statement on her Instagram to clear things up. She said: "We’re talking about kids dressing up as circus animals! No one in my video is wearing blackface. It’s awful that anyone’s mind would even go there."

View this post on Instagram

I need to set the record straight about a few things because some have been irresponsible in recent stories and posts about me, and everyone seems to rush to conclusions without having all of the facts. My instagram post yesterday had absolutely nothing to do with the criticism I received on my music video ‘NONSTOP.' I blocked certain people online and stopped following others because I was tired of seeing the personal hate on me. Some people will do anything for attention and that includes being mean. People were sending me really horrible and disgusting messages about my appearance, my sexuality, my content, and overall just being hateful. More importantly, I would like to address the music video that we shot for ‘NONSTOP' in February. We’re talking about kids dressing up as circus animals! No one in my video is wearing blackface. It’s awful that anyone’s mind would even go there. Kids dressing in animal costumes, having their faces painted to look like animals, acting the part. There were zebras, tigers, dogs, clowns, mermaids, everything. I’ve addressed Black Lives Matter issues previously on my social media, I will say it again for the ones in the back, Black Lives Matter, today, tomorrow, yesterday and forever. I’m on the right side of history here. Stop trying to make this about something it isn’t. I love my real fans and am so grateful for their love and support. Instead of trying to drag everyone down, let’s be positive and come back like a boomerang.

A post shared by JoJo Siwa (@itsjojosiwa) on Jun 26, 2020 at 4:18pm PDT

She added: "There were zebras, tigers, dogs, clowns, mermaids, everything. I’ve addressed Black Lives Matter issues previously on my social media, I will say it again for the ones in the back, Black Lives Matter, today, tomorrow, yesterday and forever. I’m on the right side of history here. Stop trying to make this about something it isn’t."

The comments on JoJo's YouTube video are currently disabled, but fans on Twitter jumped to JoJo's defence.

The Dance Moms star ended her post, saying: "I love my real fans and am so grateful for their love and support. Instead of trying to drag everyone down, let’s be positive and come back like a boomerang."

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