JoJo Siwa is speaking out after a controversial joke by Miley Cyrus sparked backlash and renewed conversations around bi-erasure in the LGBTQ community. The drama began when Cyrus, who is pansexual, made a quip in a Dreamland Pride promo video, saying she was “going back into the closet to find JoJo Siwa and bring her back out.” Siwa, who recently confirmed her relationship with Celebrity Big Brother co-star Chris Hughes, was quick to respond.
Many fans accused Cyrus, 32, of engaging in bi-erasure — a form of biphobia where a person’s bisexuality or pansexuality is invalidated, especially when they’re in opposite-sex relationships. Siwa took to Instagram to address the joke, saying, “This joke was not what the world, or myself, needs to hear any day of the week”.
She also emphasized that she didn’t believe Cyrus was ill-intended; however, the joke was just not very good. Siwa added that she messaged Cyrus light-heartedly, and Miley replied, “All love. Always.”
Siwa, a longtime fan of Cyrus, said
“Honestly, the most beautiful thing I’ve learned in the last five years is that love is a gorgeous rainbow… Don’t question yourself, don’t second guess yourself, just love.”
This isn’t the first case of bi-erasure to make headlines this Pride Month.
Billie Eilish was recently targeted after being photographed kissing actor Nat Wolff. The incident reignited harmful assumptions about LGBTQ identity and who gets to be queer enough. Once again, the queer community is reminded: love is not limited to who you’re seen with, it’s who you are.
