Fans of Dancing with the Stars will soon be treated to an uncommon occurrence.
In fact, it’s the first time ever: The show is readying to reveal a same-sex partnership.
So reports Deadline.
During a Television Critics Association press tour Thursday, Executive Producer Andrew Llinares and program host Tyra Banks delivered the news.
Season 30’s unprecedented pairing will consist of former reality TV star JoJo Siwa and Olympian Suni Lee.
Gymnast Suni is perhaps best known for her all-around gymnastics competition gold medal win at the 2020 Olympic Games.
The 18-year-old comes from a close family
Jojo’s known for her family as well: Along with mom Jessalynn, she appeared on the 2015 and 2016 seasons of television’s Dance Moms.
Jojo — who was born in 2003 — released a 2016 single:
And in January, the 17-year-old hit headlines with a big announcement:
My cousin got me a new shirt pic.twitter.com/DuHhgRto7b
— JoJo Siwa!🌈❤️🎀 (@itsjojosiwa) January 22, 2021
Despite the image above, she was coy where specifics were concerned.
From TMZ:
Child star JoJo Siwa just confirmed she’s part of the LGBTQ+ community — but isn’t quite ready to label herself with a letter just yet. …
At one point (during an Instagram video), one of JoJo’s fans asks how she identifies in terms of sexual orientation…and she says she doesn’t know yet. That’s interesting to note, because everyone assumed she’d come out as gay…mostly due to her own wardrobe, which literally had the word printed on. …
It’s a big deal, BTW. JoJo…has a massive audience with kids, so this is gonna reach them in some shape or form. Many think it’ll help children be more comfortable with owning their sexuality, since one of their on-screen heroes now has.
But in April, she narrowed it down:
“Technically, I would say that I am pansexual, because that’s how I have always been my whole life is just like, my human is my human.”
Sharing this #MondayVibes w/ you and @itsjojosiwa as she celebrates her 1st #PrideMonth this #PrideMonth2021 #ComingOut #Pansexual Watch here @ @gma https://t.co/Bmm8bZgxgj pic.twitter.com/VPoSjWVCAX
— Noreen Antao_Author (@NoreenAntaoAuth) June 14, 2021
tim won’t let me use his hard earned money to get the jojo siwa pansexual colored cereal 😤 pic.twitter.com/ZfSSR18w0F
— Gulp Shitto (@padmepansexual) August 27, 2021
Did you know that the term ‘Pansexual’ is adapted from the Greek word ‘Pan’ which means ‘All’ 🏳️🌈#Peterboroughprideuk #LGBTHistoryMonth #LGBT #Flag #pansexual #LoveIsLove pic.twitter.com/vmjwBh2Mue
— Peterborough Pride UK (@PeterbPrideUK) February 26, 2019
As for her and Suni’s impending pairing, Jojo offered the following:
“I think it’s cool, i think it breaks a wall that’s never been done before. I think it’s really special that i get to share wit the world that you can love who you love, but now you can dance with who you want to dance with.”
The culture is certainly changing. Very few years ago, the prospect of an 18-year-old female pair cutting a rug on Dancing with the Stars may have been thought impossible.
Upon hearing of the move, GLAAD Head of Talen Anthony Allen Ramos released a statement:
“[J]oJo Siwa is once again using her platform to inspire and uplift the LGBTQ community. As one of today’s most watched and celebrated programs on television, Dancing with the Stars and Tyra Banks are making the right decision to feature JoJo Siwa competing alongside a female professional dancer. The show has such a wide, far-reaching audience and there is a real opportunity here for people to celebrate the same-sex pairing and root for JoJo and all LGBTQ young people.”
It’s an increasingly popular message to young teens.
Nickelodeon’s kept abreast:
Nickelodeon Creates the ‘Trans Youth Acting Challenge’ to Help Aspiring Transgender Child Stars https://t.co/CsEQEHOYWN
— RedState (@RedState) December 5, 2020
Ditto for Disney — parent company of ABC, which airs DWTS.
The Mouse Makes History: Disney Channel Features Its First Gay Teen Couple https://t.co/yyE4SF2UtZ
— RedState (@RedState) July 31, 2019
DWTS seems to skew an older audience. But with two prominent teens taking part, youngsters may just be watching: In 2020, Jojo was voted one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People.
Per Deadline, she has more than 60.5 million social media followers. Her YouTube channel’s garnered more than 3.6 billion views.
With that kind of reach, maybe it doesn’t matter if they watch the prime time dance-off. Jojo’s fans will learn of the appearance either way.
Like many messages these days, it doesn’t rely on network TV.
-ALEX
See more pieces from me:
Because of Course: Harvard’s New Head Chaplain Is an Atheist
Oscar Winner Decries Biden’s ‘Sickening’ ‘Betrayal’ in Afghanistan, Says She Is ‘Ashamed’
With Students in Crisis, a Professor Leaps to Their Aid: We Need More Trigger Warnings
Find all my RedState work here.
Thank you for reading! Please sound off in the Comments section below.
