Karma's a B****, and She's with JoJo Siwa Right Now
Image Courtesy: The Today Show
Dance Moms star JoJo Siwa is under fire after an attempt to change her image. Siwa, originally known for her big bows and child-like aesthetic, has decided to rebrand herself; however, it doesn’t seem to be going according to plan.
In hopes of having fans view her as an adult, Siwa decided to take on an emo-esque look that was “heavily inspired” by Miley Cyrus’ transition away from her Disney reputation. “Like it or not, everyone knows that moment, and I think that that made such an impact,” Siwa said. “I think every child star has made their impact in some way becoming an adult star. But Miley’s flip, Miley’s switch, Miley’s turn was the greatest thing I’ve witnessed with my own two eyes.”
Image Courtesy: People
On April 5th, 2024, Siwa released her single “Karma.” The song lacked the Kidz Bop style that her past music is linked to; however, instead of launching her rated-R career, the single became a widespread internet meme. Siwa’s comments about the track were not received well. In an interview with Billboard News, Siwa claimed she wanted to create a whole new genre of music called “gay pop.” This comment irritated fans of many iconic pop stars and celebrities who have long promoted acceptance of homosexuality through their music. Artists such as Freddy Mercury, Lady Gaga, and Miley Cyrus are considered the founding fathers of this genre. Critics felt that Siwa’s comment was ignorant and dismissive of the icons that came before her. In an attempt to clear the air, Siwa clarified that she knows “gay pop” exists but wants to help transform it into a literal category on music applications. Within the same breath, Siwa identified herself as a victim of online hate. “I could say I want world peace, and everyone would be like, ‘How dare you want peace for the world,’” she stated. “It's kind of crazy. People ask me all the time, they're like, ‘Do you feel like you have to be very careful about what you say?’ I'm like, ‘No, because no matter what I say, it's going down anyways.’”
Just when it seemed like Siwa couldn’t dig herself a hole any deeper, it was uncovered that she was not the original creator of the song “Karma.” In an interview with Billboard, Siwa claimed she had been working on the single for years but didn’t feel comfortable releasing it. “Originally, I was scared of this song. I was 18 years old. I didn’t want to say ‘b----’ . I didn't want to say ‘I was a bad girl’ because I wasn’t a bad girl. So then, we did some versions of the song,” she said. It was revealed that the original creator of the song was Brit Smith, who recorded the track in 2012 and sold the rights to Siwa’s recording company, Rock Mafia. Smith confirmed she was the owner of the song and released her version following Siwa’s. Ironically, Smith’s version of “Karma” rocketed to the number three spot on the iTunes chart, surpassing Siwa’s cover at number 64.
Image Courtesy: The Tab
I guess karma really is a b*tch.
Strike Out,
Writer: Layne Schulte
Editor: Lindsey Limbach
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