On “SNL,” a Weekend Update segment playfully poked fun at 20-year-old singer JoJo Siwa’s transformation into an edgier and more adult persona.
Chloe Fineman appeared as Siwa at the Weekend Update desk dressed in head-to-toe black glitter and a black body suit, the same outfit from Siwa’s music video for her new single “Karma.”
“Wow, oh my god, JoJo!” said Weekend Update co-anchor Colin Jost upon seeing the singer’s new look and dark glitter eye makeup. “That’s right, Colin; I’m a bad girl now!” Commenting on her attire, she said, “Yeah, it’s a pretty big change. I used to be way more sparkles and now I’m black sparkles.”
As a teen, Siwa appeared as a dancer on the show “Dance Moms” from 2015-2016, and her 2016 songs “Boomerang” and “I Can Make U Dance,” were major hits with millions of views. The Nebraska native’s primary fan base is young girls, and now as Siwa reaches adulthood, she’s rebranded herself with an edgier look. Her new song “Karma” was recently released last month and has over 33 million views on YouTube.
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The “SNL” take on her new look provided some amusing comparisons. “I look like if a figure skater joined a street gang,” said Fineman. “I was gonna say [you look like] if Mad Max was on Broadway,” said Jost.
“Does it scare you, Colin? Does a former child star looking like this scare you?” she asked. Laughing, he replied, “Yeah, but not in the way you’re hoping.” Fineman talked about how she’s edgier now than her colorful child star days (“yeah, I’m in my bad girl era now”) and said she even “does cigarettes.” Fineman pulled out an unlit cigarette from beneath the desk. “I’m sorry, you can’t smoke in here unless you’re Dave Chapelle,” quipped Jost with a laugh.
Siwa came out as gay in 2021. At the Weekend Update desk, she declared, “I’m 20 and I’m gay! I’m the first gay girl in the world! Bet you never met a gay girl before!” Jost replied, “As a matter of fact, a lot of the women I dated turned gay.”
“JoJo, you were quoted as saying you invented of new genre of music,” said Jost, referencing a recent viral Billboard interview in which Siwa claimed to have invented the idea of “gay pop” (which she later backstepped and clarified). “That’s right, gay pop!” she declared. “That’s maybe just pop,” said Jost.
“I’m an artist, Colin,” said the singer, and later declared, “hit the track!” Siwa’s hit single “Karma” boomed as Fineman danced away from the desk with Jost looking amused and puzzled.
Singer Dua Lipa served as the episode’s host and musical guest.
