JoJo Siwa didn’t just pack her glitter and dance moves when she entered the Celebrity Big Brother UK house—she brought the full force of queer defiance with her. Days into the season, the 20-year-old pop star, dancer, and Gen Z gay icon is making headlines not for a meltdown or a showmance, but for doing what so many LGBTQ viewers are desperate to see: standing her fabulous ground.
Siwa’s latest moment came when she shared that she’s down for all pronouns. “My pronouns are anything — anything you feel on that day, whatever I look like, you can call me,” she said in a clip that instantly lit up social media. Known for coming out as pansexual in 2021 and dating Australian actor Kath Ebbs—who is nonbinary—Siwa continues to use her massive platform to normalize fluidity and queer joy for a new generation.
But where there’s pride, there’s always some problematic pushback. Enter 72-year-old actor Mickey Rourke, who clearly missed the cultural memo. In a jaw-dropping exchange that aired April 9, Rourke asked if Siwa “liked girls or boys.” When she replied, “Girls. My partner is nonbinary,” Rourke fired back with the charming, “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore.”
Nope. Siwa shut that down fast: “I can guarantee I’ll still be gay and I’ll still be in a very happy relationship.” But Rourke wasn’t done embarrassing himself. Later in the episode, he told another housemate he was going to “vote the lesbian out real quick” and dropped a slur while gesturing toward Siwa, clarifying—only after the fact—that he meant a cigarette. Producers weren’t having it. He was officially reprimanded, and ultimately issued a lackluster apology.
Not Just a Dance Mom’s Darling
What makes Siwa’s presence on the show electric isn’t just her sharp retorts or rainbow-drenched authenticity. It’s how she uses those moments to educate—even when it’s excruciating. Instead of storming off, she’s been calmly explaining why Rourke’s remarks are harmful. In another show segment, she directly addressed the veteran actor’s outdated views, and fans have responded with a thunderous digital applause. “JoJo Siwa is our lesbian of the month,” one user wrote, while another declared, “Protect her at all costs.”
And this isn’t the first time she’s addressed her gender identity in public. In a podcast appearance with Raven-Symoné, Siwa admitted she once questioned whether she might be nonbinary after becoming close with someone who was. “I really did question for a second… But then, I always loop back around to that’s not how I feel,” she said. While she sometimes presents more masc, she remains—her words—“a little feminine baby girl” at heart.
Queer Kids Deserve Their Heroes
It’s no exaggeration to say that Siwa’s presence on Celebrity Big Brother UK is bigger than just a few spicy clips. For young queer viewers watching at home—especially those who’ve been misgendered, shamed, or told to “tone it down”—Siwa is proof that joy, identity, and self-respect can co-exist, even under reality TV’s glaring spotlight. Her unapologetic openness offers both validation and aspiration.
The show may only run for 19 days, but JoJo Siwa’s impact won’t vanish when the house lights dim. She’s turning the Big Brother house into a crash course in modern queer visibility—one rainbow scrunchie and clapback at a time.