JoJo Siwa, the former “Dance Moms” star turned pop sensation, revealed in a recent interview with E! News the heightened security measures she now requires due to her escalating fame and safety concerns.
“This definitely is different,” Siwa, 21, acknowledged during the interview, reflecting on her newfound need for security at all times.
She disclosed a recent unsettling incident where her home was targeted in a swatting prank, resulting in a significant police presence outside her residence. Swatting involves making a false emergency call to law enforcement, leading them to respond with a SWAT team, causing disruption and potential danger.
Siwa recounted the incident, noting how it prompted her to rethink her security practices. “The police asked me, he was like, ‘Why do you not have security with you in this moment?’ And I was like, ‘Cause I haven’t needed it yet.’ But now, I do really need it every day with me,” she explained.
The incident has underscored the changes in her life since the release of her song “Karma” in April, a track featured on her latest EP, “Guilty Pleasure.” The song marked a departure from her previous image, embracing a more rebellious persona that has resonated with fans but also invited scrutiny and criticism.
Addressing her evolving public image, Siwa acknowledged the mixed reactions but affirmed her artistic direction. “I will never claim to be a singer but I will claim to be an artist,” she asserted. “I am giving the world art and they might not like it, they might hate it, but they’re enjoying it. And it’s become a bit of a guilty pleasure for everyone.”
Beyond her music career, Siwa hinted at a forthcoming docuseries aimed at revealing her personal journey and the realities behind her public persona. “No, you don’t [know me],” she asserted. “You know exactly what I want to show you. You know my career, essentially. But you don’t know how I’m getting there.”
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She expressed frustration at public misconceptions about her career management, stressing that she is the driving force behind her decisions and image. “A lot of people look at my career and look at my marketing strategies as if I’m psycho and have people controlling me as if I’m a puppet,” she remarked. “But when you learn and find out that it’s actually me doing all of it, it flips and you’re like, ‘Wait what?’”
