JoJo Siwa has canceled her scheduled appearance at the upcoming Back Lot Bash music festival in Chicago, a major event tied to the city’s Pride weekend on June 29.
Fans were left disappointed after festival organizers announced Siwa would no longer be taking the stage due to a “scheduling conflict.” The pop star and Dance Moms alum has not directly addressed the no-show, but the cancellation comes on the heels of recent personal revelations that have sparked conversation within the LGBTQ+ community.
Last week, JoJo Siwa opened up about the pressure she felt to label her sexuality when she came out publicly at 17.
“When I came out at 17, I said, ‘I’m pansexual,’ because I don’t care,” she told the Daily Mail. “But then I kind of boxed myself in and I said, ‘I’m a lesbian.’ And I think I did that because of pressure.
“Where did that pressure come from? In a weird way, I think it came a little bit from inside the community at times. From people I know, from partners I’ve had.”
JoJo Siwa, now in a relationship with Celebrity Big Brother UK castmate and British TV personality Chris Hughes, is making headlines as she navigates her identity journey more openly. Hughes is the first man she has publicly dated since coming out in 2021.
The Chicago Pride cancellation also follows news that Siwa’s U.S. tour has been postponed.
“I’ve got some news that breaks my heart to share. My US tour has to be postponed. I promise I’ll be back before you know it to perform for all the beautiful people in the US,” she wrote on her tour website.
While fans wait for updates on rescheduled tour dates and possible Pride appearances, many are expressing support for JoJo Siwa as she continues to be candid about the challenges of growing up in the public eye and navigating personal identity.
