- JoJo Siwa came out in 2021 through a series of posts on Tik Tok, Twitter, and Instagram.
- In a recent interview, she spoke about her decision to use social media to discuss her sexuality.
JoJo Siwa said in a recent interview with E! News that social media provided her with a "safe space" to come out.
"Just getting social media for me, it actually gave me a safe space when I came out," she said in the interview, which was shared Saturday.
The former "Dance Moms" star and online sensation said she felt confident that even if people in her immediate circles didn't support her, "there was gonna be people online that did."
In January 2021, when Siwa posted a video on TikTok in which she danced and lip-synced to "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga, some of her fans urged the public to refrain from labeling her sexuality or declaring the TikTok a "coming out video." But in the days to come, she confirmed speculation by tweeting a photo of herself wearing a shirt that read "Best. Gay. Cousin. Ever."
She then explicitly discussed being a member of the LGBTQ community in an Instagram live stream on January 24, 2021.
"Personally I have never, ever, ever been this happy before and it feels really awesome," she said.
Over two years later, in her interview with E! News in June 2023, Siwa named the stars who served as sources of inspiration during her coming-out journey, including Elton John, Miley Cyrus, and Lady Gaga.
"Freddie Mercury has gotten me through a lot of my insecurities," she added. "And he's not even alive here. He's fixed my brain."
She also encouraged members of the LGBTQ community to "Never, ever put yourself in a box. And never ever limit yourself."
"Be yourself," she said.