JoJo Siwa Responds to "Lavender Relationship" Speculation With Chris Hughes

JoJo Siwa is setting the record straight on speculation surrounding her relationship with Chris Hughes, pushing back against suggestions that theirs is a "lavender" relationship—an outwardly heterosexual arrangement involving one or more queer partners.

The 23-year-old "Boomerang" singer opened up about the rumors during an appearance on E!'s Hot Goss, discussing how coming out while dating a man attracted far more scrutiny than her previous relationship with a woman. The two met while appearing together on Big Brother UK.

"Coming out dating a man for me ended up getting more scrutiny than coming out dating a girl," she explained. "A lot of people took it in a negative way for the fun of it. People thought Chris and I's relationship was not real."

Siwa admitted she was initially unfamiliar with the term "lavender relationship." "I had no clue what it meant before," she said. "I Googled it and I was like, 'Oh, grow up!'"

She went on to address the broader criticism of her romantic choices. "I hate that people think that love is controllable. Prior to Chris, I was never interested in men—still not interested in men as a whole. I'm interested in a man—singular, not plural," she clarified.

The artist emphasized that her friendships and personal style have always leaned masculine. "I've had dudes as my friends my whole life. I bond better. I don't want to get my nails done and talk iced coffee orders with girls. I don't carry a purse, I carry a backpack. I don't wear women's pants, I wear men's pants…I'll be very honest, I saw him and I was like, 'Yeah, we're going to be best friends.'"

Siwa spoke highly of her partnership with Hughes, highlighting the foundation of their bond. "Chris is such a wonderful partner. We have the utmost trust for each other. We have the utmost respect for each other," she shared.

The couple celebrated their first anniversary in May, with both posting heartfelt messages on Instagram about their long-distance relationship. The milestone came shortly after Siwa revealed she's been thinking about weddings.