- Content: Stores Remove JoJo Siwa Game After Parents Accuse Prompts of ‘Grooming’ Behavior
By Movieguide® Staff
A card game marketed to young fans of Nickelodeon and TikTok star JoJo Siwa received backlash from parents who claim the game contains highly “inappropriate” questions.
The game, called “JoJo’s Juice,” claims to have a target audience of children. But after several 1-star reviews and a statement from JoJo herself, Amazon and Walmart removed the game from online stores.
One review reads: “Very inappropriate game for kids; rated for three and up but asks questions about you being naked and everything else. wouldn’t recommend this game for any child of any age!!” says a one-star Walmart review of the game from December 2018.
Another reviewer said: “My daughter received this for Christmas. It is inappropriate and grossly underaged. My daughter loves her JoJo bows but this game is going missing.”
Nickelodeon and “JoJo’s Juice” manufacturer Spin Master released a joint statement announcing they would no longer sell the game.
“We respect and value the relationship JoJo Siwa has with her fans and take the concerns raised regarding the game ‘JoJo’s Juice’ very seriously,” the statement said. “This game is no longer being manufactured and we have requested that retailers pull any remaining product from their shelves.”
Siwa also released a statement on her TikTok where she claims that she wasn’t aware of the game’s inappropriate content.
@itsjojosiwa thank you for your love and support ❤️❤️❤️
The controversy gained traction after mother and TikTok user Heather Watson gave examples of the card games’ older themes. Some of the questions that the game asks participants include “Have you ever stolen from a store?” and “Have you ever walked in on someone naked or had someone walk in on you?”
Another TikTok user commented: “This is like textbook grooming language.”
The comment received 43,000 likes.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children defines grooming as an older person using their relationship with a child to exploit, manipulate, and abuse them.
Other questions that Watson found included:
- “Have you ever been arrested?”
- “Who in this room would you most like to date?”
- “Have you ever gone outside without underwear (a bathing suit doesn’t count)?”
- “Have you ever taken money from someone’s purse or wallet without asking?”
Watson said, “I think it belongs in the trash. … This world is SICK!”
Many consumers are becoming more aware of grooming tactics aimed at children.
Media discernment is essential, not just for movies, but for all forms of media. Movieguide® encourages parents to exercise discernment in what content their child is consuming and point them towards uplifting and wholesome content.
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