Entertainer JoJo Siwa is facing a maelstrom of controversy over what fans say is a “tone-deaf” response to the ongoing wildfires plaguing the Pacific Palisades area and beyond.
In a now-deleted Instagram video posted by the “Guilty Pleasure” singer’s girlfriend on Friday, the “Dance Moms” personality packs away “one-of-a-kind” items she wants to save should they be evacuated – including outfits from her music videos.
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JoJo Siwa Asks ‘What Else Do You Need?’ As She Saves Costumes From Being Lost In The Wildfires
As a resident of Tarzana, CA, the 21-year-old Siwa is among many in and around the Palisades area whose homes are in the direct path of the wildfires, which have reportedly killed 10 people and caused tens of thousands of others to evacuate.
In the Instagram video, first posted on Wednesday by the “Karma” performer’s new girlfriend, Australian actor Kath Ebbs, Siwa is seen tossing costumes from her music videos into the back of a car as audible warning alarms blare in the background.
Ebbs is heard chuckling off-camera as Siwa shows off a black onesie with rhinestones from her controversial “Karma” music video and a bejeweled construction vest last seen in 2024’s “Guilty Pleasure” music video.
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As the words “The essentials…” are seen on-screen, Siwa closes the back door and asks, “What else do you need?”
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JoJo Siwa Considers A Displayed Costume To Be Her ‘Entire Life,’ Before Making A Privileged Remark
Later in the video, a flummoxed Ebbs questions Siwa as the performer carries a large display across her luxurious Los Angeles mansion.
“It’s my ‘Boomerang’ costume,” the Nickelodeon star proclaims loudly, before adding, “This is my entire life!”
Ebbs repeats in confusion, “Your entire life?” which leads Siwa to admit that she’s already packed away more important things.
“I have all my legal documents. I’m going to fill the car up with my favorite things,” she tells Ebbs before heading out with the boxed costume.
Seconds later, we see Siwa back in her home, where she shares that things truly imperative to her life were never in danger of being destroyed by the fire.
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“All of my family hard drives and all of those [kind of things], I have somewhere else already,” she clarifies to Ebbs, before reaching into a cupboard to obtain a cup of flower petals.
“You’re not taking [them] with you,” Ebbs insists, to which Siwa responds, “I am.”
You can watch the video above.
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JoJo Siwa’s Followers Call Out ‘Tone Deaf’ Display Of Young Star’s Actions
Before Ebb’s video was removed from Instagram, several of Siwa’s followers went after the former teen icon for the bizarre way she treated the severity of the wildfire’s destruction.
“What about all the people who are losing their homes, family, pets and belongings?” one user wrote, per Daily Mail. “What about wildlife? Why post this?”
Another commenter asked, “Who cares?” regarding Siwa’s “essential” items shown in the video.
“Countless folks have no homes and you went with this? Yikes.”
“I think there’s more important things to talk about,” another social media user said, with an additional follower expressing things more succinctly.
“This is so tone-deaf,” they wrote.
JoJo Siwa May Not Have To Evacuate Due To The Wildfires After All
Though Ebb’s video of Siwa was ultimately deleted, an update from the Australian content creator struck a new nerve with fans – as it turned out they didn’t have to evacuate the mansion.
On Thursday morning, two days after the wildfires began in the Pacific Palisades area, Ebb would update fans that she and Siwa were safe, as was Siwa’s luxurious property, making the entire matter moot.
Reports from Architectural Digest state that the bubbly dance star, who identifies as a lesbian, first purchased the six-bedroom estate at age 16 in 2019, for $3.43 million. Right before Christmas, Siwa put the Tarzana home on the market.
Once a media darling, Siwa has been put under the microscope several times within the last year.
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Following a notable fashion switch-up to more dark sartorial choices, Siwa fielded several controversies including a drunken appearance at an LGBTQ+ Pride event, rumors of stolen songs from other artists for her “Guilty Pleasure” EP, and allegations of she and her mother, Jessalyn Siwa, bullying and degrading members of the young pop collective they managed, XOMG POP!
Unlike JoJo Siwa, Many Celebrities Have Lost Their Homes In The Wildfires
While Siwa and her girlfriend are lucky, other celebrities have spoken of the losses they’ve experienced due to the Los Angeles wildfires continuing their ravaging devastation.
In the last few days, stars such as Paris Hilton, Melissa Rivers, and Britney Spears have shared stories of being evacuated and seeing their valuable homes destroyed. Our hearts continue to go out to those affected by the wildfires.