JoJo Siwa clarifies comments after being accused of saying 'lesbian' is a 'dirty' term: 'It is not a slur'

foxnews.com:

JoJo Siwa responded to her millions of followers on TikTok following online backlash after being accused of saying "lesbian" was a "dirty word" during an interview last week. "I never said that lesbian was a dirty word and I never, ever would say that it’s a dirty word because it is not," Siwa said in response to a fan comment calling out the former "Dance Moms" star. "It is not a bad word, it is not a slur, and it is especially not a word that I am ashamed of saying or ashamed of identifying as by any means." Siwa explained she doesn't like "the sound" of the word as she sat in her room wearing a tie-dyed hooded sweatshirt while reading and responding to comments on the video sharing app.

JoJo Siwa clarified remarks she made about using the word "lesbian" and said she didn't dislike the term, she just prefers to say she's gay. (David Livingston) "I don’t hate the word lesbian. … Whenever someone talks to me about my sexuality, I just say that I’m gay," she clarified. "It’s not the word that flows off the tongue for me, if that makes sense." Siwa came out last year and has since been in an off-and-on relationship with girlfriend Kylie Crew.

During an interview with Unapologetically released last week, the 19-year-old YouTube star discussed her "gay icon" status. JoJo Siwa found fame at a young age starring on the reality television series "Dance Moms." (Getty Images) "It’s not about being comfortable with being the face of the LGBTQ young demographic, young age, youngling," she said.