The new season of “Dancing With the Stars” will feature the first same-sex partners, including social media personality JoJo Siwa.
According to CNN, Siwa will be dancing with an unidentified female pro. The announcement was made at a news conference Thursday during the Television Critics Association press tour.
“I am so excited to be a part of this year’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 30. And to be dancing with a girl — I think it’s so cool!” Siwa said.
She added, “It’s going to be the best ever. I can’t wait to just dance every single week. I can’t wait to meet my partner. Oh my gosh, there’s so many things I’m so excited for.”
Bring on the sequins and the sparkles. ✨ We’re SIWA excited for this! 🎀 #DWTS @itsjojosiwa pic.twitter.com/mzwezAm0An
— Dancing with the Stars #DWTS (@officialdwts) August 26, 2021
GLAAD said in a statement, “At 18, JoJo Siwa is once again using her platform to inspire and uplift the LGBTQ community… The show has such a wide, far-reaching audience and there is a real opportunity here for people to celebrate the same-sex pairing and root for JoJo and all LGBTQ young people.”
According to Siwa, she was given the option to dance with a girl by the producers of the show.
“I said I actually would love and prefer to dance with a girl,” Siwa said. “Why not show the message even stronger that you can love whomever you want to love?”
Acknowledging that there will likely be criticism, Siwa explained, “There’s going to be people who don’t like it, who think dancing on the show with another girl is wrong or weird.”
She added, “I don’t need those people in my life. If it’s wrong or weird to you, that’s OK, because there’s a billion other people who don’t think it’s wrong or weird. Partnering with another girl will give other people around the world more courage to say, ‘It’s OK that I love somebody of the same sex.'”