A week ago Candace Cameron Bure announced she’d left the Hallmark channel for the Great American Family channel at which she was given an executive position. She also said her new employer would “focus on traditional marriages” for their Christmas films, meaning they wouldn’t portray LGBTQ relationships or characters. So people told Candace she and her “traditional” Christmas films sucked. One of those people was JoJo Siwa who had already let us know she and Candace had history. But while JoJo gave Candace a pass last summer, she’s not this time. After Candace’s multipage statement taking no responsibility, JoJo said she thinks her communication with Candace is effectively done for good. That doesn’t mean, however, that JoJo will stop speaking out against Candace’s narrow-minded beliefs.
JoJo Siwa is not regretting calling Candace Cameron Bure’s “traditional marriage” comments “rude and hurtful.”
“As I’m getting older, I’m starting to realize what an impact I really do get to have,” Siwa, 19, tells PEOPLE at Disney+’s Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday.
The So You Think You Can Dance judge, dressed as the Rocketman in a feathered red and orange ensemble, adds that she is “learning that I have a chance to use my voice, use my platform for something good and to change the world for the better.”
“I think that’s a really cool position to be in,” she continues about having a powerful voice in the LGBTQ community, and the support she has received since her response to Bure, 46. “I am being honest and maybe being a little disruptive to somebody’s life, but it’s what I believe in. And so to have good people stand behind you with it felt really nice.”
“We have not [talked], and I don’t think we ever will again,” she says of the status of her communication with Bure after the Full House star, 46, purportedly excluded the gay community from shows on the Great American Family (GAF) network, of which she is the chief creative officer.
“That’s what’s f—ed up,” continues Siwa. “You not liking gay marriage, do your thing girl. You being religious, do your thing girl. Of course, I would want everybody to do what they want to do. But to purposely exclude someone because of who they love, that’s sh—y.”
To resolve the situation, Siwa believes that Bure should take up an offer from GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis’ to “come have a conversation.”
“That’s what I would want Candace to do,” adds Siwa. “I would want her to have a conversation with GLAAD. Because even though I am educated, GLAAD is such an incredible organization. Sarah is a genius when it comes to the gay community. And I think that Candace having a conversation with her would be not only eye-opening to Candace but eye-opening to a whole world of people who might have those same beliefs.”
“I am being honest and maybe being a little disruptive to somebody’s life, but it’s what I believe in.” I love this comment. And it cuts to the quick of Candace’s issue. Her pleasant little life got disrupted by people calling out her bigotry. She thought she was being clever parsing her words with “focusing on” and thought using “traditional” would be understood but not controversial. So good on JoJo for throwing a little sand in Candace’s sock and not backing down. It’s nice to see JoJo take control of the sway she has. That’s a lot for a 19-year-old but she’s handling it well. And I agree that she has no reason to speak to Candace again, she’s clearly not listening.
As JoJo mentioned, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis invited Candace to have a conversation. Sarah posted it on Twitter, I don’t know if she also extended an invitation personally. This is what celebrities do when their PR wants to rehabilitate their image. They emerge from these talks claiming to have a whole new understanding. I doubt this discussion will take place though. Candace has already shown she doesn’t want to be seen as contrite on this. And she certainly isn’t open to what Sarah has to say. Maybe someday, but not now.
Photo credit: Cover Images and Instagram
Good on JoJo. I honestly don’t know much about her, but she’s coming out with really thoughtful responses.
And I think we should move on and leave Candace behind. 1. I never heard of this Great American Family network or whatever before this and 2. All the communication is falling on deaf ears. She’s not going to change.
I’m all for seeing what JoJo is going to do moving forward. I’m excited to see her positive influence.
Jojo is so darling and I’m very proud of her. Candace can get bent.
If only bigots like Candace realized just how tiresome they are…Mind your own bloody business; less stress and more peace when you keep your nose out of other people’s lives. *Sigh*
I think JoJo is wonderful! Gutsy, hard-working, achieving, and making the world a better place just by being positive. And how can that smile fail to light up any room?! I love her clothes too. They are a bit kooky but so much fun. And. And! We have the same name! My darling (late) hubby always called me JoJo.
Candace and others like her can shove a cactus up themselves.
1) Roast her, Jojo!
2) Candace really is a more sly version of her brother.
I love these Gen Z kids so much. I love that they’re not afraid to tell it like it is and call out bad behavior in people who are old enough to know better. They are kind and savvy and outspoken and I love it.
Jojo is just a pure ray of sunshine, and I am so proud of her activism and her support for her community. This seems to me to be part of the “good trouble” that the wonderful John Lewis was talking about. Keep causing good trouble, Jojo!
This rhetoric by these ‘people’ is too dangerous.
THANK YOU JOJO! She’s one of the helpers- her voice helps people feel better, especially young LGBTQ+. I follow her on TikTok. She’s normalizing their journeys and experiences to them in real time and it’s amazing. Hope we can keep all of these wonderful people safe too 💕 such scary times. Brave helpful beautiful JoJo
And also
TAKE A FLYING LEAP, Candyass
I don’t see how anyone believing in a kind and just god would hate someone like JoJo.
Meeting her should have been a come to Jesus moment for Candass, showing her that LGBT people can be goodness, kindness and grace and shaking some of that ignorance.
Just commenting to give JoJo some love. How is she so mature and wise at 19?! I feel like she went from being a role model for kiddos to a role model for all of us.
That picture of Candace eating tuna straight out of the pouch is killing me. What a tool.