An entertainer JoJo Siwa has faced a whirlwind of controversy over what fans say has been a "tone-deaf" response to the ongoing wildfires affecting Pacific Palisades area and beyond.
In a now-deleted Instagram video posted Friday by the "Guilty Pleasure" singer's girlfriend, the "Dance Moms" personality packs "one-of-a-kind" items she wants to keep if they're evacuated — including clothes from her music videos.
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JoJo Siwa asks 'What else do you need?' While saving costumes from being lost in forest fires
As a resident of Tarzana, California, Siwa, 21, is among many in and around the Palisades area whose homes are in the direct path of the wildfires, which have reportedly killed 10 people and caused the evacuation of tens of thousands of others.
In an Instagram video posted Wednesday by the "Karma" artist's new girlfriend, Australian actor Kath Ebbs, Siwa is seen throwing costumes from her music videos into the back of a car as warning alarms sound in the background.
Ebbs can be heard laughing off-camera as Siwa flaunts a rhinestone-studded black T-shirt from her controversial 'Karma' music video and a bejeweled construction vest last seen in 2024's 'Guilty Pleasure' music video.
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As the words "Essential..." appear on the screen, Siwa closes the back door and asks, "What else do you need?"
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JoJo Siwa considers the costume on display to be her 'whole life' before making a privileged remark
Later in the video, a confused Ebbs questions Siva as the performer carries a big screen over her luxury Los Angeles mansion.
"That's my 'Boomerang' costume," the Nickelodeon star loudly declares, before adding, "This is my whole life!"
Ebbs repeats in confusion, "Your whole life?" which prompts Siwa to admit that she has already packed more important things.
“I have all my legal documents. I'm going to fill the car with my favorite things,” she tells Ebbs before heading out with the costume in the box.
Seconds later, we see Siwa back in her home, where she says that the things that were truly essential to her life were never in danger of being destroyed by fire.
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"I've got all my family hard drives and all that stuff somewhere else already," she explains to Ebbs, before reaching into the cupboard for a cup of flower petals.
"You're not taking (them) with you," Ebbs insists, to which Siwa replies, "I am."
You can watch the video above.
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JoJo Siwa's followers are calling the portrayal of the Young Star's actions "tone deaf".
Before Ebb's video was removed from Instagram, several of Siwa's followers went after the former teen icon for the bizarre way she handled the severity of the wildfire's destruction.
"What about all the people who are losing their homes, family, pets and belongings?" wrote one user, per Daily Mail. “What about wild animals? Why publish this?”
Another commenter asked, "Who cares?" regarding Siwa's "essential" items shown in the video.
"Countless people don't have homes, and you went with this? Yikes.”
"I think there are more important things to talk about," another social media user said, with an additional follower putting things more succinctly.
"This is so tone deaf," they wrote.
JoJo Siwa might not have to evacuate because of the wildfires after all
Although Ebb's Siwa video was eventually deleted, the Australian content creator's update struck a chord with fans - as it turns out they didn't have to evacuate the mansion.
On Thursday morning, two days after the fires started in the Pacific Palisades area, Ebb informed fans that she and Siwa were safe, as well as Siwa's luxury estate, making the whole thing moot.
Reports from Architectural Digest reports that the bubbly dancing star, who identifies as a lesbian, first purchased the six-bedroom property at age 16 in 2019 for $3.43 million. Just before Christmas, Siwa put Tarzana on the market.
Once a media darling, Siwa has been put under the microscope several times in the last year.
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After making a significant fashion shift to darker watch choices, Siwa has sparked several controversies including showing up drunk at an LGBTQ+ Pride event, rumors that she stole songs from other artists for her "Guilty Pleasure" EP, and accusations that she and her mother, Jessalyn Siwa, were abusive and humiliating members of the young pop collective they managed, XOMG POP!
Unlike JoJo Siwa, many celebrities have lost their homes in wildfires
While Siwa and her girlfriend are lucky, other celebrities have spoken out about the losses they have experienced as the Los Angeles fires continue their devastating devastation.
In recent days, stars such as Paris Hilton, Melissa Riversand Britney Spears shared stories of being evacuated and seeing their precious homes destroyed. Our hearts continue to go out to those affected by the wildfires.
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