"Like a parody of Bangerz/ Can't be Tamed era"— Fans react as JoJo Siwa's new music video sparks online debate 

On July 12, singer and dancer JoJo Siwa dropped the music video of her latest single, Guilty Pleasure, from the album of the same name. It revealed her wearing sequinned construction outfits, bedazzled bows, and teddy bear wigs while using power tools like jackhammers and sledgehammers. The music video also featured nuns dancing alongside the pop star inside a church.

The queer-themed electro-pop music video has garnered traction, with the internet divided by the visuals. While some thought the effort was worthwhile, others slammed it. Some drew comparisons to other pop artists, especially Miley Cyrus and her studio albums Bangerz (2013) and Can’t Be Tamed (2010).

Here are some of the reactions from X:

“She’s tryna’ pull a Miley but the music just doesn’t hit,” one person wrote.

“What she thinks she’s doing but actually embarrassing herself in a way that’ll never be iconic,” another person wrote.

“She is like the weird love child of Miley and Gaga at the height of their wild and extreme days. It’s like she’s almost got the shock art down, but she’s not quite there. The song is catchy but what mass-produced pop/club music isn’t? That’s the point of it,” a netizen wrote.

Some even compared JoJo Siwa to Britney Spears, Sam Smith, and Madonna.

“Why am I thinking of Britney Spears’ Piece of Me,” another netizen wrote.

“She’s trying so hard to be the next Madonna,” an individual wrote.

“She goin full Sam Smith,” another individual wrote.

Others lauded JoJo Siwa for the music video.

“Actually, very into the looks and themes. Vvv nice work, love,” a fan wrote.

“I don't mind it. At least it's different and this is way better than Karma, me thinks,” another fan wrote.

JoJo Siwa herself directed the 2-minute and 35-second-long music video of Guilty Pleasure alongside Marc Klasfeld. Ricky Jackson, who also served as the co-creative director alongside JoJo’s mother and internet personality Jessalynn Siwa and Siwa Management, choreographed the video. Missy Galanida produced it.

Meanwhile, the song’s lyrics have been co-authored by Meghan Trainor and DJ White Shadow.

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Karma was the first single of JoJo Siwa’s latest EP

Former Nickelodeon child artist Jojo Siwa recently released her fourth extended play (EP), Guilty Pleasure, under Columbia Records. Its first single, Karma, came out in April 2024, with Siwa claiming it as her chance to “rebrand” herself and shed her image of being a former child actor.

Karma earned mixed response upon its release. The song was originally written for Miley Cyrus in 2012 by Antonina Armato, Tim James, and Desmond Child. However, Cyrus could never do it due to her contractual troubles with Disney. Later, Brit Smith recorded it as her debut single, but that too wasn’t released until JoJo Siwa launched it earlier this year.

On July 12, Siwa released the second and titular single of the EP Guilty Pleasure, which will comprise five songs, including Balance Baby, Yesterday’s Tomorrow’s Today, and Choose Ur Fighter.

However, the launch dates of the other three currently remain undisclosed but are expected to drop later this year. The EP fuses elements of dance-pop, electro-pop, and EDM.

Over the last few months, JoJo Siwa drew criticism for multiple reasons. First, upon the release of Karma, she was accused of taking on Miley Cyrus, which she denied. Not only that but while promoting her EP, the 21-year-old claimed that she invented “gay pop” but later retrieved the same.