HARD LAUNCH JoJo Siwa celebrates first day of World Pride Month with a hard launch photo of Chris Hughes in bed

This morning, I woke up to the distant cries and shrieks from queer people everywhere. And yes, I know that sounds dramatic. But how could it not be when every LGBTQIA+ person and ally is in utter and total disarray at what’s going down before our eyes. Especially when it’s happening just 24 hours into the first day of World Pride Month.

Not following? Let me catch you up to speed.

Yesterday, a rather intimate photo emerged online showing Gen Z lesbian icon JoJo Siwa, and her newly confirmed boyfriend, Chris Hughes, cuddling in bed together. The photo, which was shared on Hughes’ Snapchat timed almost perfectly with JoJo’s hard launch announcement to The Guardian.

I think I can speak on behalf of everyone when I say that this doesn’t really come as any surprise. After bonding very quickly during their stint in the UK Big Brother house, followed by a very public and poorly handled breakup with Aussie Kath Ebbs, even blind Freddy saw this one coming. And yet, I’d be lying if I said that the coincidental timing of the announcement at the very start of World Pride month doesn’t feel like a bit of a slap in the face.

Something also tells me I’m not alone in this sentiment. Twitter (sorry, X) has been taken by storm, with users commenting things like, “is this a bit?” and “this is my joker origin story”. Because despite how obvious their relationship was, let’s be real, we’ve all been clinging onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, they’re really good friends.

Since coming out as a lesbian back in 2021, Siwa has become internationally recognised by Gen Z as a queer icon in music and pop culture. I mean, for god’s sake, the girl grinded with a female dancer in a rainbow rhinestone suit at the TikTok Awards last year. Her entire branding in recent years has centred almost exclusively on her queerness – and while that doesn’t have to change necessarily – it does beg the question as to whether she’ll continue down this route in the near future.

In conversation with The Guardian, Siwa expressed how she’s “in pain from smiling so much” thanks to her new beau. And while dating a man naturally would come as a shock to many in the LGBTQIA+ community, Siwa had publicly expressed during the Big Brother filming that she felt more “queer” than lesbian. What’s so easy to forget is that Siwa is still just 22 years old, and clearly on her own journey to figuring it all out.

Do we stand with JoJo? Not really, I’m team Ebbs all the way. But I’m not going to sit here and be a hater – if the girl is happy, then so be it. At least this rumour mill has finally been put to bed (pardon the pun).