Tegan & Sara's recent criticism of JoJo Siwa's claim to have invented "gay pop" has sparked a heated debate.
Siwa's assertion in a Billboard interview that she wanted to start a new genre of music called "gay pop" garnered attention, drawing both support and disagreement.
Tegan & Sara, who are well-known members of the LGBTQ+ community, noticed JoJo Siwa's claim and felt compelled to share their disagreement.
They posted a video response where they expressed their differing opinion in response to Siwa's statement.
In the caption, they wrote, "These gay popstars love Jojo."
Siwa's claim generated a lot of debate on social media, with numerous people expressing their disagreement and highlighting that she shouldn't be credited with creating "gay pop."
Many individuals pointed to renowned LGBTQ+ artists like Elton John, Freddie Mercury, Lady Gaga, Dusty Springfield, and Prince as influential figures in the genre.
They stressed that the notion of "gay pop" has a long and significant history that existed before Siwa entered the music industry.
These artists paved the way for JoJo Siwa and others to openly express their LGBTQ+ identities and contribute to the growing representation of queer individuals in popular music.
During an interview with BuzzFeed, Tegan & Sara admitted that they are not experts on the subject but expressed their discomfort with Siwa's claim, as it implied she thought she was creating something that completely never existed before.
They had initially supported Siwa when she came out but felt let down by her statement.
Tegan & Sara shared similar feelings, emphasizing the importance for young queer individuals to learn about the history and roots of the LGBTQ+ community as they get involved and contribute.
They found Siwa's assertion of inventing "gay pop" at just 20 years old to be disrespectful, highlighting that the genre existed long before her time.
They recognized Siwa's young age and believed that she could learn and develop as an individual.
Following the backlash, Siwa clarified her statement, clarifying that she never intended to claim she invented "gay pop."
In an interview with TMZ, Siwa stressed that she acknowledges she is not the originator of "gay pop," but she wants to actively participate in its continued growth and expansion.
