JoJo Siwa is setting the record straight.
The singer, dancer, and television personality is addressing speculation surrounding her relationship with Chris Hughes after some online commentators suggested the couple could be in what is known as a “lavender relationship” — a term historically used to describe a relationship that presents as heterosexual despite one or both partners being queer.
During an appearance on E!’s Hot Goss, Siwa made it clear that she finds the speculation both frustrating and unnecessary.
“I came out when I was 17, I had a wonderful relationship with a girl,” JoJo said.
The former Dance Moms star noted that her current relationship has generated even more conversation than her coming out experience.
“Coming out dating a man for me ended up getting more scrutiny than coming out dating a girl,” she explained.
According to Siwa, some critics have questioned the authenticity of her relationship with Hughes ever since the pair connected while appearing on Big Brother UK.
“A lot of people took it in a negative way for the fun of it. People thought Chris and I’s relationship was not real.”
Siwa admitted she wasn’t even familiar with the term being used to describe her relationship.
“I had no clue what it meant before,” she explained of the term “lavender relationship.”
“I Googled it and I was like, ‘Oh, grow up!’”
She went on to challenge the broader assumption that attraction can be neatly categorized or controlled.
“I hate that people think that love is controllable. Prior to Chris, I was never interested in men—still not interested in men as a whole. I’m interested in a man—singular, not plural.”
Siwa also shared that her connection with Hughes developed naturally through friendship.
“I’ve had dudes as my friends my whole life. I bond better. I don’t want to get my nails done and talk iced coffee orders with girls. I don’t carry a purse, I carry a backpack. I don’t wear women’s pants, I wear men’s pants…I’ll be very honest, I saw him and I was like, ‘Yeah, we’re going to be best friends.’”
Over time, that friendship evolved into something deeper.
“Chris is such a wonderful partner. We have the utmost trust for each other. We have the utmost respect for each other.”
The couple celebrated their first anniversary together in May, marking the occasion with sweet tributes shared on social media that offered fans a glimpse into their long-distance relationship.
The anniversary came shortly after Siwa admitted she had been experiencing a bit of wedding fever, fueling further curiosity about where the romance could be headed next.
For now, however, Siwa’s message is simple: her relationship is real, meaningful, and nobody else gets to define it for her.
