Saying the name “JoJo Siwa” in 2017 conjured images of a smiling girl with a high blonde ponytail and brightly colored‚ oversized hair bows. Saying the same name in 2024 brings to mind a slightly more feminine version of KISS frontman Gene Simmons. It’s true that all kids have to grow up. Siwa‚ like so many child stars who came before her‚ was destined to shed her sweet and innocent pre-teen idol image for something edgier as she matured. But Siwa’s transformation is so extreme‚ and so abrupt‚ that it demands explanation. Siwa‚ who was born in 2003‚ shot to fame as a young performer on the Lifetime reality series “Dance Moms.” The Omaha‚ Nebraska‚ native appeared on two seasons of the show in 2015 and 2016. However‚ Siwa was not destined for mere reality star fame. Rachel Murray/KCA2015/WireImage The aspiring singer released two singles‚ “Boomerang” and “I Can Make U Dance‚” in 2016 and watched the music video views rack up. Siwa was named the Breakout Artist of the Year by Vivid Seats in 2018. This prompted her to announce she was embarking on “D.R.E.A.M. The Tour” in 2019. Besides just singing‚ the young celeb became a national sensation thanks to clever branding and marketing. One school in the U.K. tried to ban the massively popular‚ oversized hair bows sold under Siwa’s brand name because they were so popular that educators deemed them “distracting.” “I’ve always just worn bows” the singer told CBBC’s Newsround in 2017 of the international trend. “They just got bigger and better and sparklier – and then I became ‘JoJo with the bow bow’ and it became a thing‚” she added. Later‚ Siwa said the bows were “more than just a hair accessory.” She said they were also “a symbol of power‚ confidence‚ believing-ness.” The brand is still sold at major retailers such as Claire’s‚ Justice‚ Walmart‚ and Target. Wesley Hitt/Getty Images for Nickelodeon It wasn’t just bows‚ either. Siwa’s merch started popping up everywhere as young kids emulated her look and sang along to the bubblegum pop lyrics of Siwa’s upbeat song catalog. With titles like‚ “Every Girl’s a Supergirl‚” “Kid in a Candy Store‚” “High Top Shoes‚” and “Bop&;#33;‚” it’s easy to see exactly who the YouTube star was marketing to. There were leagues of JoJo Siwa devotees‚ fan club members‚ and YouTube subscribers. Most were in the highly impressionable pre-teen demographic. The change in Siwa was both gradual and all at once. One of the most pivotal moments in her image change happened in January 2021 when she came out as LGBTQ. Siwa alerted fans by posting a photo of herself wearing a shirt that said‚ “Best. Gay. Cousin. Ever.” She later clarified that her sexual attraction didn’t align with any strict labels and if anything‚ she was “pansexual.” “I always believed that my person was just going to be my person‚” she said at the time‚ as The Daily Wire previously reported. “And if that person happened to be a boy‚ great‚ and if that person happened to be a girl‚ great&;#33;” “I think humans are awesome‚ I think humans are really incredible people. Right now‚ I’m super duper happy and I want to share everything with the world but I also want to keep things in my life private until they are ready to be public. Right now what matters is that you guys know that no matter who you love‚ that it’s OK. It’s awesome and the world is there for you‚” Siwa continued. Sarah Morris/Getty Images The former child star went public with two romantic relationships with women shortly after. While many followers were critical of Siwa for becoming a vocal LGBTQ advocate‚ others championed the move. But the pop singer’s most shocking and controversial transformation was still to come. On April 2‚ the YouTube star debuted a drastically different look at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards‚ explaining that she was evolving to cater to an older audience. Siwa dressed in all black with a revealing cut-out mesh bodysuit‚ combat boots‚ dramatic black eye makeup‚ and a faux mohawk. The singer said it was the same outfit she wore while recording her new music video for the single “Karma.” JOCE/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images The former “Dance Moms” star had already showed off her brand overhaul on March 5 by uploading a series of behind-the-scenes photos from dance rehearsals for her upcoming single release‚ as The Daily Wire previously reported. The captions from the nine posts formed a message that read‚ “See you in one month. Remember Karma’s a b****.” “This is my ‘KARMA‚’ black beast look‚” Siwa said during a red carpet interview with E&;#33; News at the iHeartMusic Awards. “It’s got some rips in it‚ but you’d never know.” When asked how she’s responding to backlash for her new‚ more provocative look‚ Siwa said‚ “People are afraid of things they don’t know. Things can be scary for people. New things can be very‚ very scary.” She added‚ “The way that I’m able to keep going and keep being like‚ ‘Wait‚ actually what I’m doing is right‚’ is because some of the most respected people in the world have come up to me and been like‚ ‘What you’re doing right now is so right. It is what the world needs‚ and I’m learning from what you are doing right now.’” She mentioned rapper Lil Nas X and Meghan Trainor as two individuals who had vocalized their support for her new image. “Support from people like that means the world to me‚” Siwa boasted. The singer made it very clear that her new content was not for a younger audience. She teased the release of her latest single in March with a series of Instagram posts‚ writing: Warning. The following content is not made for children and may be disturbing or offensive to some viewers. May contain sexual themes‚ violence‚ strong language‚ traumatic scenarios‚ and flashing lights. Viewer discretion is advised. The “Karma” music video now has more than 24 million views on YouTube. Gone are the days of songs about high top shoes. “I was a bad girl / I did some bad things‚” the single opens.  The chorus continues with more of the same message. “Karma’s a b****‚ I should’ve known better / If I had a wish‚ I would’ve never effed around / When I saw the pics of you and her‚ I fеlt the knife twist /  Karma’s a b****‚ and she’s with you right now.” “I wanted it to be as bold and as ballsy as possible. There is nothing more ballsy than this song‚” the 20-year-old said during a Billboard interview about the song.  “The genre is — I said it back in the day when I first signed with Columbia. I said‚ ‘I want to start a new genre of music.’ And they said‚ ‘What do you mean&;#63;’ And I said well‚ ‘It’s called gay pop.’” Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images Siwa names fellow former child star Miley Cyrus as her biggest inspiration. “It’s no secret that my transition is heavily inspired by Miley Cyrus‚ of course‚” she said. Siwa mentioned when Cyrus made headlines for her provocative Video Music Awards performance with Robin Thicke in 2013. “Like it or not‚ everyone knows that moment and I think that that made such an impact‚” Siwa said. “I think every child star has made their impact in some which way becoming an adult star. But Miley’s flip‚ Miley’s switch‚ Miley’s turn was the greatest thing I’ve witnessed with my own two eyes.” Like it or not‚ parents of young fans need to realize that Siwa has traded in big hair bows for sexual innuendo. And it doesn’t look like she’s going back.

Daily Wire host Andrew Klavan sat down with political commentator Megyn Kelly on her eponymous podcast Wednesday to discuss a range of topics‚ including the recent outrage from the Left over women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark’s rookie salary. Clark‚ who became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball during her senior season at Iowa‚ was selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA draft earlier this week‚ and many on social media — all the way up to the White House — took issue with Clark’s contract compared to what rookie NBA stars make. Kelly began the segment by quoting a social media post by President Joe Biden‚ who wrote in part‚ “Even if you’re the best‚ women are not paid their fair share.” “First of all‚ who the hell wants to hear from this White House — which is allowing and trying to make it more expansive for boys to play against girls in women’s sports — about fairness‚ right&;#63;” Kelly asked‚ before describing the controversy over Clark’s four-year $338‚000 contract compared to last year’s NBA first-overall draft pick Victor Wembanyama‚ who signed a four-year $55 million contract. “They’re not paying these guys in the NBA that much money because they love throwing their money away; they’re paying it because that’s how much money they’re bringing in‚” Klavan said. “That’s how capitalism works. If you’re bringing in the money‚ you get paid for what you do.” “And listen‚ Caitlin Clark is a wonderful athlete‚” the Daily Wire host continued. “In fact‚ her college championship game was watched more than the men’s championship game‚ and if she can do that in the WNBA‚ believe me‚ she’ll be earning that kind of money when she re-negotiates her contract.” Klavan said that paying Clark similar to what NBA players make wouldn’t work with the economics of the WNBA as the NBA brings in roughly 100x the revenue of the professional women’s league. The author of “The House of Love and Death” added that the debate over WNBA players’ salaries highlights deep hypocrisy from the Left. “The Left started out by saying to us‚ ‘There’s no difference between men and women. We have to treat them exactly equally.’ And now they’re saying there’s so little difference that a man can be a woman‚ and if you say that a man can’t be a woman and play sports at another level in the women’s game‚ you’re being somehow bigoted‚” Klavan remarked. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “The entire thing is genuinely an attack on women‚” he continued. “It genuinely is a hatred of women. And I really do believe this‚ by the way: I believe the Left despises women at their core for the simple reason that the things that women do occur in a different moral structure than the things that men do.”  

Defense attorneys for the 29-year-old man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in 2022 say cellphone evidence places the suspect away from the area where the murders took place. The suspect‚ who is not being named by The Daily Wire‚ plans to use cellphone tower data to show that he was out driving on the night the students were killed‚ but never went near their off-campus home‚ ABC News reported. “[The suspect] was out driving in the early morning hours of Nov. 13‚ 2022‚ as he often did to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars. He drove throughout the area south of Pullman‚ Washington‚ west of Moscow‚ Idaho‚” Anne Taylor‚ the suspect’s lead attorney‚ wrote in a new court filing. To back this up‚ the defense plans to call an expert witness “to show that [the suspect’s] mobile device was south of Pullman‚ Washington and west of Moscow‚ Idaho on November 13‚ 2022; that [the suspect’s] mobile device did not travel east on the Moscow-Pullman Highway in the early morning hours of November 13th‚” according to the court filing. For this reason‚ the defense claims‚ the suspect’s car could not be the one seen on video surveillance driving on the Moscow-Pullman highway on the night of the murders. The suspect has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of burglary relating to the killings of Ethan Chapin‚ 20; Kaylee Goncalves‚ 21; Xana Kernodle‚ 20; and Madison Mogen‚ 21‚ in the early morning hours of November 13‚ 2022‚ in the college town of Moscow‚ Idaho. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Part of the evidence that led to the suspect’s arrest‚ mentioned in a previously unsealed probable cause affidavit‚ showed that police were able to narrow the timeframe of the crime to between 4:00 a.m. and 4:25 a.m. and reviewed video footage taken in the area in the time before and after the murders are believed to have occurred. Video showed a white Hyundai Elantra without a front license plate (front license plates are required in Washington and Idaho‚ but not in Pennsylvania‚ where the car was registered) in the area between 3:29 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. The vehicle can be seen passing the off-campus residence three times before returning a fourth time around 4:04 a.m. and attempting to turn around on the road. The vehicle was next seen around 4:20 a.m. traveling away from the direction of the off-campus residence at high speed‚ heading in the direction of a road that eventually leads to Pullman‚ Washington‚ where the suspect attended Washington State University (WSU). Video footage from the WSU campus showed a white Hyundai Elantra leaving the area and heading toward Moscow at around 2:53 a.m. At around 5:25 a.m.‚ this vehicle was again observed on five cameras in Pullman and the WSU campus. Police pulled records for white Hyundai Elantras registered at WSU on November 29 – just over two weeks after the murders were committed – and found one belonging to the man who was eventually arrested. Police reviewed the owner’s Washington state driver’s license and determined he matched the suspect’s physical description provided by one of the surviving roommates. Police matched the suspect to the vehicle through two previous traffic stops in the months before the murders. They also learned that the suspect registered his car in Washington and received Washington plates on November 18 – five days after the murders. Police also reviewed cell phone data to show the suspect’s phone did not ping any cellular towers near the crime scene during the relevant timeframe‚ but an expanded examination of cell phone data showed the phone stopped reporting data to the network at around 2:47 a.m. At that time‚ the white Elantra was leaving Pullman and heading toward Moscow. The phone next pinged at 4:48 a.m. in an area south of Moscow‚ heading back to Pullman. Cell records also showed that the suspect left his home in Pullman around 9:00 a.m. on November 13 and traveled back to Moscow. Cell records dating back to June 2022 showed the suspect’s phone was in the crime scene area on at least 12 occasions before the murders – all but one in the late evening or early morning hours.

“Euphoria” actress Sydney Sweeney clapped back at the film producer who said she was “not pretty” and not good at her job. Carol Baum‚ best known for her work with Dolly Parton’s TV and film production company Sandollar Productions‚ made her observations about Sweeney during a “Dead Ringers” (1988) film screening on April 11. The producer spoke with New York Times critic Janet Maslin during a Q&;A‚ saying she was underwhelmed by Sweeney’s romantic comedy “Anyone But You‚” which she said she had watched recently on an airplane.  “I wanted to know who she is and why everybody’s talking about her‚” Baum said‚ per The Daily Mail. “I watched this unwatchable movie — sorry to people who love this movie — (this) romantic comedy where they hate each other.” The executive producer‚ who has worked in the industry since the late 1980s‚ also teaches at the University of Southern California. “I said to my class‚ ‘Explain this girl to me‚’” Baum continued. “She’s not pretty. She can’t act. Why is she so hot&;#63;” Sweeney’s rep responded with a statement to USA Today blasting Baum for her comments. “How sad that a woman in the position to share her expertise and experience chooses instead to attack another woman‚” the actress’s rep said. “If that’s what she’s learned in her decades in the industry and feels is appropriate to teach to her students‚ that’s shameful. To unjustly disparage a fellow female producer speaks volumes about Ms. Baum’s character.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Maslin also addressed the comments going viral with an X post shared on Tuesday. “We brought up ‘Anyone But You’ because it’s been the rare smash hit rom-com at a time when they aren’t working‚” the NYT critic wrote. “Not because we wanted to take cheap shots at anyone.” Plenty of fans and coworkers took the opportunity to heap praise on Sweeney. “Immaculate” producer Teddy Schwarzman wrote on X‚ “I’ll enlighten Ms. Baum that two-time Emmy nominee Sydney Sweeney is not only one of the most talented actresses I’ve worked with‚ but also incredibly smart‚ kind and humble. I’m not sure why someone who claims to still be a producer would make such terribly ugly comments‚ but I can assure everyone that Sydney is at least beautiful on the inside.” 

Have you ever missed out on something because you had to make a tough decision&;#63; Maybe you chose to watch your team’s playoff game and missed out on the guys’ camping trip that your friends crack inside jokes about years later or perhaps you ordered a burger when your buddy’s steak ended up looking way better. Worse than either of those sad predicaments‚ it’s possible that you were one of the unfortunate souls who didn’t get your hands on the wide array of Mayflower Cigars after Michael Knowles launched his wildly popular cigar line in collaboration with The Daily Wire late last year. Talk about missing out&;#33; If you did miss out on Mayflower’s most popular item‚ the 8-cigar assortment‚ you weren’t alone. The assortment was so popular that it sold out‚ along with the rest of The Daily Wire’s initial four-month inventory of Mayflower Cigars‚ within hours of Mayflower’s launch in November. But today‚ we have some good news for you. Unlike your decision to go with the burger over the delicious steak‚ you don’t have to make a tough choice and miss out on something better. That’s right. The Mayflower 8-Cigar Assortment is back in stock just for you. So what exactly can you look forward to when you take advantage of this incredible deal&;#63; In this sampler box‚ you can try the Mayflower Dawn blend in Toro‚ Robusto‚ and Churchill vitolas‚ as well as the Mayflower Dusk blend in Toro‚ Robusto‚ and Toro Gordo. You could stick with making tough choices and picking a 3- or 4-cigar assortment‚ but don’t blame us if your pal brags about the excellent Toro Gordo when you opted to go with the Robusto. Both are excellent choices‚ but why limit what you could enjoy&;#63; The 8-cigar assortment lets you try four Mayflower Dawn cigars with subtle notes of wood‚ coffee‚ and cream. Mayflower Dawn is well-balanced and mild- to medium-bodied. This line is expertly handmade with Nicaraguan long fillers‚ a Cameroon binder‚ and finished with only the finest Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. You also get four Mayflower Dusk giving you something a little bolder‚ medium- to full-bodied‚ with notes of cocoa‚ espresso‚ oak‚ and black pepper. This blend is made with Nicaraguan long fillers‚ a Sumatra binder‚ and finished with only the finest Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. With the 8-cigar assortment‚ you truly are getting the best of the full Mayflower flagship lines for a great price. And you can rest assured that your Mayflower Cigars are made with premium care and crafted with the guidance of cigar aficionado Michael Knowles’ personal taste. The cigars are handmade in Esteli‚ Nicaragua‚ and created along with designers at Oliva Cigar Co. in a factory known for producing some of the highest quality cigars in the world. Don’t dread the tough choice and get your Mayflower 8-Cigar Assortment today&;#33; And don’t wait long to order. Mayflower Cigars sell out fast — like extremely fast. Mayflower Cigars can be ordered at mayflowercigars.com. You must be 21 years of age or older to purchase tobacco products. Some exclusions apply. See terms for full details.

A six-term House Democrat from New Jersey remains hospitalized more than a week after he experienced a “cardiac episode‚” according to his office. The office of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ)‚ a 65-year-old husband and father of triplets‚ released a statement on Wednesday with an update on the congressman’s condition. “Congressman Donald M. Payne‚ Jr. suffered a cardiac episode based on complications from his diabetes last week‚” the statement said. “Today‚ he is in stable condition at a local hospital and continues to be under doctor’s care. While we hope for a full recovery‚ we ask everyone to keep him in your prayers.” The statement was less confident than one released last week when Payne’s office first acknowledged a health incident over the previous weekend. At the time‚ Payne’s team insisted he had a “good” prognosis and was expected to make a full recovery. Payne’s office sent out the update on the congressman’s health in the hours after the New Jersey Globe reported that Payne had suffered a heart attack on April 6 and had not regained consciousness since that time. The report also said Payne had been hooked onto a ventilator in an intensive care unit at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center for 11 days. In terms of House business‚ Payne’s absence could have an impact as lawmakers consider foreign aid legislation. The chamber is narrowly divided‚ with Republicans holding a slim majority. A flurry of well-wishes appeared on social media after the New Jersey Globe report got published on Wednesday and Payne’s office did not deny its contents. “Keeping my friend [Donald Payne] in my thoughts‚” Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) said in a post to X. “He means so much to New Jersey and we are all praying for his swift recovery.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Anthony Coley‚ a legal analyst and former Department of Justice official‚ said crisis medical communications for politicians “can be tough‚” noting his own experiences working with former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine‚ Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)‚ and Rep. John Lewis (D-GA). “Rule of thumb—candor w/ constituents is always the best‚” he said‚ “Bad choice by staff/family to conceal this info early on.” Coley added‚ “Prayers for the Congressman’s complete recovery.”

Major League Baseball season is upon us‚ and with it will come what is known as “Dog Day” at many stadiums. Dog day is when people can bring their baseball-loving family pets to the ballpark to enjoy a game. For Makenzie and her golden retriever Rafi‚ “Dog Day at the Rays” has been a go-to event for several years. Unfortunately‚ they were already sold out when she went to get tickets. Mackenzie is a TikTok influencer‚ and Rafi is 13 years old. Afraid this might be his last game‚ she took to TikTok and made a special video just for the Tampa Bay Rays. @makenziecann @TAMPA BAY RAYS if you happen to have a ticket for my sweet 13 year old golden &; i for this sunday&;#33;&;#33; shooting out shot&;#33; ♬ original sound – makenziecann The response from her fans was predictable‚ with many folks urging the Rays to “hook a girl up.” The Dallas Stars‚ a hockey team‚ even added a nudge. There was an extraordinary response from the Tampa Bay Rays. Imagine Makenzie’s surprise when this hit her feed: Image from TikTok. So‚ when Makenzie slid into her DMs‚ she found the surprise of all surprises. She and her golden retriever were going to the game&;#33; But they weren’t just going to the game. Rafi got VIP treatment and his own Tampa Bay Rays jersey with the number “13” and his name&;#33; The team sent representatives to the stands to help Rafi dress appropriately for this special day. @makenziecann @TAMPA BAY RAYS with the surprise custom jersey. 🩵 #13 might be my new favorite. ♬ wildest dreams stolen version harmonies TS stems – andreaaashop Rafi watched intently while enjoying a “Ballpark Hotdog” stuffed toy during the game. He certainly looks dashing in his custom pup cap and his new jersey&;#33; Image from TikTok. Honoring An Aging Golden Retriever Might Not Seem Like Much This is community relations at its best. When a major league baseball team takes the time to make one fan and her pooch happy‚ you know they’re doing something right&;#33; The team’s response to Makenzie’s plea was extraordinary‚ creating a memory that will last a long time. Tampa Bay has a reputation for community involvement; this outpouring of love for Rafi‚ the golden retriever‚ and his mom exemplifies that commitment. This is why baseball is America’s favorite pastime. If you enjoyed this wonderful “tail” of “Dog Day at the Rays‚” please share it with other animal lovers and baseball fans. I might have to cheer for the Rays this year‚ at least when they aren’t playing against my Tigers. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Tampa Bay Rays Surprise Senior Golden Retriever With His Very Own Jersey On Game Day appeared first on InspireMore.