Throughout their time within the Celebrity Big Brother home earlier this yr, JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes have been usually inseparable for the whole lot of the two-week social experiment, whether or not cuddling collectively in mattress or having fun with just a few memorable chats within the sizzling tub.
Former Dance Moms star JoJo additionally made a few realisations about her gender and sexuality whereas inside the home, notably stating that she might doubtlessly establish as non-binary, that she was nonetheless exploring her gender identification, and even altering her label from lesbian to queer.
They later went on to substantiate their relationship to followers, having posted a slew of loved-up selfies on social media, together with one shared on Chris’ Snapchat exhibiting JoJo asleep on his chest.
What I can’t shake from my thoughts, although, is the infinite criticism that JoJo has confronted within the wake of CBB. The worst bit? Many of them are LGBTQ+ – and it reeks of bi and queerphobia.
‘What occurred to homosexual pop?’ @funinika beforehand penned on X, previously Twitter, whereas @MissTostapane stated that the ‘straightification of JoJo Siwa wasn’t on my bingo card.’
‘Chris Hughes posting an image of himself in mattress with the self-proclaimed inventor of homosexual pop, JoJo Siwa, on the primary day of Pride Month has acquired to be some form of homophobia?’ @brvttie added, and @lesbianyoshi accused JoJo of being a ‘lesbophobe.’
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Now, talking on Sirius XM’s Smith Sisters Live, JoJo has as soon as once more addressed her sexuality – and the hate she’s obtained since leaving the home. And as a bisexual individual, it’s struck a chord with me.
‘Just as a result of I’m in a hetero relationship doesn’t imply I’m straight. And okay, simply say hastily I stated, “yeah, I’m straight”. Awesome. Who cares? Great. Beautiful. I’m nonetheless an ally then,’ she stated.
She went on to make clear that she’s ‘not straight’ simply because she’s ‘in love with a person,’ including: ‘My previous doesn’t get to be discredited although due to that.’
‘The first time I ever fell in love with anyone was with a girl. And she was my greatest pal. And we had an unbelievable relationship. I’ve clearly been in a relationship with different girls and non-binary individuals and now I’m with a person,’ she stated.
Like JoJo Siwa, I too modified how I recognized – however having beforehand dated girls, the truth that I’ve been relationship a person for the final six years doesn’t make me any much less bisexual.
The first time I got here out – after I was about 18, following just a few drunken confessions to my mates on nights out – I informed the world I used to be bisexual. But a few years later, having solely actually dated girls whereas I used to be at college, I modified my label to lesbian for a quick interval. At the time, it felt essentially the most becoming, and I confidently explored my identification.
Fast ahead to 21, although, and I boomeranged again to bi. Shortly afterwards, I met my associate, and the remaining is historical past.
Time and time once more, although, I’ve felt invalidated for being a queer girl who’s relationship a person.
There have been instances the place I’ve been made to really feel like switching my label was by some means a betrayal of my queer identification (mates have jokingly recommended that I ‘was a lesbian’ till I met my boyfriend), and that I’m ‘lower than’ for selecting up to now a person after I might date a girl as a substitute. But that’s not how falling in love works, is it?
I don’t select individuals up to now purely based mostly on their gender; for me, it’s persona and shared pursuits which might be enticing. And sooner or later, I actively need my children to know that I’m not straight – even when I is likely to be married to a person.
Likewise, any suggestion that I’m heterosexual as a result of I’m in a straight-facing relationship is offensive to me – and I’m endlessly correcting individuals alongside these traces.
While I is likely to be relationship a person and I recognise the privilege that this affords me in conditions that is likely to be unsafe for LGBTQ+ {couples} in same-sex relationships, the easy undeniable fact that I’m bisexual means it innately doesn’t match the definition of a ‘straight’ relationship.
Just as a result of my associate isn’t a girl – and I modified how I establish a few instances – that doesn’t imply that I’m not as equally as queer as a girl who’s relationship one other girl.
I’m endlessly wanting to remain linked with my neighborhood; I by no means stopped going to LGBTQ+ golf equipment, and Pride continues to be a yearly occasion in my calendar. It all the time will probably be.
So, the truth that JoJo Siwa is now seeing a person doesn’t make her any much less queer. And whereas I don’t essentially condone the circumstances during which they acquired collectively – with JoJo’s ex-partner pressured to observe their relationship unfold and finally being damaged up with lower than 24 hours after she left the home – sexuality will be very fluid.
It’s offensive to recommend that she’s by some means ‘lower than’ or a ‘faux lesbian’ as a result of she realised that her earlier label wasn’t fairly the appropriate match. It occurs.
Admitting as such takes guts, notably within the public eye; typically, we’re not born realizing every part about ourselves. We must take somewhat little bit of time to discover it – and that’s OK.
This article was initially revealed on June 2, 2025.
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