JoJo Siwa newest musical project—a cover of Kim Carnes’ classic hit “Bette Davis Eyes” from 1981—has sparked a whirlwind of reactions online. The former Dance Moms star shared a teaser of her studio version on TikTok, donning a retro 1950s “trad wife” look, complete with a stylish bob, pearls, and bold red lipstick.
However, the attention quickly shifted from her appearance to her heavily auto-tuned, raspy vocals, with one viral comment asking,
“Is this an anti-smoking campaign??”
Kim Carnes’ Subtle Shade Adds Fuel to the Fire
The original artist behind “Bette Davis Eyes,” Kim Carnes, seemed to weigh in with a TikTok post that has since been deleted. She noted,
“There’s a difference between singing a song… and embodying it… I’ve always believed authenticity is what makes music timeless… I’m forever grateful to be the voice behind this one,”
which many took as a slight aimed at Siwa’s version. Though Carnes hasn’t publicly confirmed her intent, fans speculated that she wasn’t too impressed.
Siwa’s cover quickly turned into meme fodder, with TikTok users likening her voice to “fag ash vocals” and joking that it sounded like “an anti-smoking ad.” Others questioned her artistic choices, with one user tweeting,
“JoJo Siwa going from Goth punk pop wannabe to housewife was not on my 2025 bingo card.”
Despite the backlash, Siwa’s boyfriend, Chris Hughes, came to her defense, commenting,
“Ugh so good, you’re perfect.”
Siwa’s Response and Future Plans
Not deterred by the criticism, Siwa hinted at a complete release of the cover, asking fans whether she should drop it on Spotify. She even changed the lyrics live to “Chris Hughes’ eyes,” adding to the viral buzz.
Whether this represents a true shift in her artistic style or just a savvy publicity move is up for debate, but one thing is certain: JoJo Siwa knows how to grab the spotlight.
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