A Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit parodying JoJo Siwa’s transformation into her “bad girl” persona sparked mixed reactions online. Many felt it was inappropriate for adults to mock a young queer artist who grew up in an abusive environment.
In the skit, impressionist Chloe Fineman transformed into the Dance Moms star during SNL’s Weekend Update segment on Saturday (May 4) with co-anchor Colin Jost. “Wow, oh my god, JoJo!” Colin exclaimed at the sight of Chloe’s JoJo impression.
“That’s right, Colin; I’m a bad girl now!” Chloe responded, covered in glitter, wearing leather, and rocking black lipstick. “Yeah, it’s a pretty big change. I used to be way more sparkles, and now, I’m black sparkles,” she added.
At one point, Chloe joked, “I look like if a figure skater joined a street gang,” to which Colin quipped, “I was gonna say [you look like] if Mad Max was on Broadway.” Chloe continued, “Does it scare you, Colin? Does a former child star looking like this scare you?” She then pulled out a pack of candy cigarettes, claiming she “does cigarettes” now.
The skit also took a jab at JoJo’s interview where she claimed to have invented a new genre called “gay pop,” for which she later apologized. “I’m 20, and I’m gay! I’m the first gay girl in the world! Bet you never met a gay girl before!” Chloe mocked.
Some viewers highlighted concerns about mocking a young queer artist with a troubled past. “JoJo, you were quoted as saying you invented a new genre of music,” Colin remarked, to which the comedian answered, “That’s right, gay pop!” Colin responded, “That’s maybe just ‘pop.’”
The skit, which went viral on social media, divided opinions. Some saw it as a form of bullying. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “SNL still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I can’t fully point out why but for this? It’s a bit horrid knowing JoJo Siwa grew up in an abusive environment, is very sheltered, and doesn’t really know what a normal life is then she gets picked on for like having an annoying dance thing.”
JoJo Siwa’s rise to fame began with her appearance on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition and later Dance Moms, where she became known for her high-energy, bow-wearing persona. The show often displayed a toxic environment with verbally abusive behavior from dance coach Abby Lee Miller and extreme competitive pressure. Older footage of the Lifetime reality TV show revealed that JoJo’s mother, Jessalynn Siwa, had been bleaching her daughter’s hair blonde since she was only two years old.
In a 2020 interview with Variety, JoJo opened up about the “worst day in her career,” recalling how after being a top meme in October with people criticizing her hairline and calling her a giant toddler, she faced harsh treatment at Knott’s Scary Farm. “All these teenagers were, like, ‘JoJo Siwa, F you! Go home.’ All night long people were shouting things at me. So I just thought teenagers don’t like me. And I am one! But I didn’t have any teenage friends, and I do now.”
Despite the concerns raised on social media, JoJo seemed to react positively to the SNL skit. She reshared the segment on her Instagram story over the weekend, writing, “Iconic. I literally don’t know what to say. This is f—— crazy. 3-and-a-half-minute skit on SNL…”