JoJo Siwa pulls out of Pride event amid controversy over Chris Hughes romance

JoJo Siwa has pulled out of a Pride event days after after opening up about the “pressure” to label herself a lesbian.

The Dance Moms star was to perform at the Back Lot Bash in Chicago on 29 June as part of Chicago Pride.

However, the event has issued a statement on social media which said that “due to a scheduling conflict, JoJo Siwa will no longer be performing at Chicago’s Back Lot Bash”.

The “Karma” singer was due to start the American leg of her DREAM tour next week. However, she recently issued a statement on her website saying, “I’ve got some news that breaks my heart to share…”

@pinknews JoJo Siwa has pulled out of a Pride event after opening up about ‘pressure’ to label herself a lesbian. JoJo was scheduled to perform at the Back Lot Bash in Chicago on June 29, as part of Chicago Pride. However, the event issued a statement on their social media, reading: "Due to a scheduling conflict, JoJo Siwa will no longer be performing at Chicago's Back Lot Bash". JoJo was also meant to return to the US next week for the American leg of her tour, but recently issued a statement on her website saying ‘I’ve got some news that breaks my heart to share. My US tour has been postponed. I promise I’ll be back before you know it to perform for all the beautiful people in the US!’ JoJo hasn’t personally addressed pulling out of the Chicago Pride event. The singer has made appearances at numerous Pride events over the years. In 2024, JoJo put on a showstopping performance at LA Pride in the park, and in 2022 she was spotted on a float alongside her friend G-flip at the City of West Hollywood’s Pride Parade. All this news follows JoJo opening up about her sexuality in a new interview. #jojosiwa #lgbtqia #pride #pridemonth #queertiktok #chicagopride ♬ Hip Hop Background(813690) – Pavel

“I promise I’ll be back before you know it to perform for all the beautiful people in the US!,” she added.

Siwa recently confirmed that she identifies as queer, having come out publicly 2021 and later describing herself as a lesbian. It followed her time on Celebrity Big Brother on which she became close with presenter Chris Hughes.

While on the show, the singer also announced she was “switching letters” after realising she was queer.

After the show finished Siwa broke up with her partner of serval months, Kath Ebbs. Siwa and Hughes, who were then spotted together on numerous occasions, confirmed their relationship earlier this month.

Hughes shared an image on his Snapchat on Monday (23 June) of the two holding hands after Siwa “surprised” by flying back to the UK to be with him, as reported by The Mail.

In a recent interview with YOU Mag Siwa explained that she felt “pressure” to describe herself as a lesbian after she came out.

“It came a little bit from inside the [LGBTQ] community at times,” Siwa said. “From people I know, from partners I’ve had. You just get put in this world where you feel like, because you now have said, ‘Oh, I’m a lesbian’, you have to be a lesbian. And the truth is, sexuality is fluid”.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter on the same topic, Siwa said the realisation about her identity happened “a year ago”.

She then explained why she wasn’t open about it publicly saying, “It’s not something that needs to be shouted out at the rooftops”.