JoJo Siwa once stood as one of Gen Z’s most prominent and vocal LGBTQ+ icons. From rainbow-themed performances to TikToks that celebrated her coming out as lesbian, she quickly became a symbol of authenticity and self-acceptance for a new generation. But now, just days into Pride Month 2025, that once-unshakable support base appears to be cracking—and the internet is on fire.

On June 1, a photo surfaced that no one saw coming: JoJo Siwa, curled up in bed beside reality star Chris Hughes, with the caption “Sleepinnn beauty,” posted from his verified Instagram account. Siwa, eyes closed, head resting on Chris’s chest, appeared entirely at peace. But the public reaction? Anything but.

What made the timing so explosive wasn’t just the suggestive pose—it was that the post dropped on the first day of Pride Month, a symbolic and emotionally charged time for the LGBTQ+ community. And JoJo, who only months earlier had broken up with longtime partner Kath Ebbs, had just recently begun referring to herself as “queer,” walking back the lesbian label that had once defined her public identity.

Online backlash was swift and brutal.

“You don’t get to wave the rainbow flag and then use your queerness like a costume,” one comment on X (formerly Twitter) read, racking up over 120K likes in under two hours. “You kissed a man, posted it on Pride, and you think we won’t notice?”

The scandal erupted from a long-simmering tension—JoJo’s evolving sexual identity. After publicly identifying as a lesbian in 2021, she shifted to “queer” in early 2025 following her stint on Celebrity Big Brother UK, where she met Chris Hughes. The two developed a noticeable chemistry on-screen, sparking speculation even before the show ended.

Tabloids ran wild with rumors after the pair were spotted kissing on a beach in Tulum in April. JoJo dismissed the footage at the time as a “friendly moment taken out of context.” But now, with the “Sleepinnn beauty” post making headlines worldwide, the “friendship” explanation is no longer holding water for many of her fans.

“I’m Still Queer” — But What Does That Mean Now?

In a rushed video posted to her Instagram story on the evening of June 1, JoJo tried to clarify her stance.

“Yes, I saw the post. Yes, I’m with Chris. And yes—I’m still queer,” she said, visibly agitated. “Being queer doesn’t mean I owe anyone a rigid definition of my identity. It means I love who I love, and I don’t need to put that in a box for anyone else’s comfort.”

But for some longtime supporters, it wasn’t enough.

“She built a platform by being a proud lesbian. That visibility mattered, especially for kids coming out young,” one fan replied on TikTok. “Now it just feels like bait-and-switch.”

Critics Say It’s a PR Move—Or Worse

Several queer influencers and activists didn’t mince words. TikTok creator @GayAgendaGuru posted a fiery video that quickly went viral, saying, “This isn’t about identity fluidity. This is about optics. JoJo Siwa knows how powerful her brand is, and she’s commodifying queerness. You don’t post a cuddled-up bed pic with a man on Pride Day One unless you’re trying to spark a conversation—or cash in on the controversy.”

Adding fuel to the fire, JoJo’s ex, Kath Ebbs, posted a cryptic message just hours after the leak: “Visibility isn’t a trend. And for some of us, the consequences are lifelong.” The post was accompanied by a black-and-white photo of Kath alone on a balcony, staring into the distance.

Fans Are Divided, But the Conversation Is Loud

While many critics have taken aim at JoJo’s timing and choices, others are defending her right to explore her identity. Some argue that the backlash reveals an unhealthy policing of queerness within the community itself.

“She’s still young, she’s still figuring it out, and she never owed us a fixed label,” one fan commented. “Let’s not forget she was one of the first Disney-adjacent stars to come out at all.”

Still, the question remains: was this just a poorly timed soft-launch of a new relationship, or a calculated shift designed to stir publicity and spark relevance?

As Pride Month continues, JoJo Siwa finds herself at the center of a very different conversation than the one she’s used to leading. Whether this latest chapter in her life is embraced or condemned may depend less on her identity—and more on how authentically her next move is perceived.