JoJo Siwa has dropped out of a film backed by Will Smith amid the controversy surrounding his slap of Chris Rock at The Oscars.

The 18-year-old star said that she is no longer attached to the film adaptation of Bounce which is based on the young adult book to Megan Shull.

Of the project falling through, JoJo told Variety at the GLAAD Awards on Saturday: ‘That project got put on hold, and then went away. It wasn’t the one.’ 

Insiders also revealed to the publication that Paramount Pictures has removed the project from its development slate. 

Moving on: JoJo Siwa has dropped out of Bounce which was a film backed by Will Smith

Sources maintain that the project had actually fallen apart months ago and it falling through has nothing to do with Will’s assault on comedian Chris at The Oscars last Sunday.

The film was first announced in the summer of 2020 as it was brought to the studio by producer and Jada Pinkett Smith’s brother Caleb Pinkett.

Jada and Will had been reported had been reported as producers at the time before the formation of their own content company Westbrook. 

On Friday, Will resigned from The Academy calling his actions during the ceremony ‘shocking, painful and inexcusable,’ adding that he would accept any additional consequences issued by the Academy’s Board of Governors.

JoJo Siwa looks radiant in pink gown at People’s Choice Awards

Of the project falling through, JoJo told Variety at the GLAAD Awards on Saturday: ‘That project got put on hold, and then went away. It wasn’t the one’

Interesting: Back in 2020, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith (seen at The Oscars last week) had been reported had been reported as producers at the time before the formation of their own content company Westbrook

On Friday, Will resigned from The Academy calling his actions during the ceremony ‘shocking, painful and inexcusable,’ adding that he would accept any additional consequences issued by the Academy’s Board of Governors

Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith ‘choose chaos’ ahead of Oscars

‘The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,’ Smith said. ‘I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.’

 Last year JoJo was embroiled in a bit of controversy surrounding the now cancelled film as in June 2021 she had won her fight to get a kissing scene with a man cut from Bounce.

The former Dance Moms reality star, who had a girlfriend at the time, told Entertainment Weekly at the time that she is ‘madly in love and I do not want to kiss another human. Especially because it’s a man.’

Taking a stand: Last year JoJo was embroiled in a bit of controversy surrounding the now cancelled film as in June 2021 she had won her fight to get a kissing scene with a man cut from Bounce

Shortly after expressing her discomfort, JoJo tweeted that she’s been assured by her ‘friends at Paramount’  that ‘I don’t have to do anything I don’t wanna do ever!!!’

Meanwhile in January, JoJo celebrated her first anniversary of being out of the closet, after coming out in 2021.

The star gave an impassioned speech to fans during her concert at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, telling them, ‘No matter who you love, it’s okay.

‘A lot of people said, “You have a really young demographic. Aren’t you afraid of telling them that you’re gay?”‘ she recalled.

Shortly after expressing her discomfort in June 2021, JoJo tweeted that she’s been assured by her ‘friends at Paramount’ that ‘I don’t have to do anything I don’t wanna do ever!!!’ 

‘And I said, “I am definitely not afraid of telling my young demographic that loving everybody for who they are was exactly what you should do.” I want to tell you that no matter who you are, no matter who you love, it’s okay.’

Last year she made history on Dancing With the Stars and became the first to have a same-sex partner, after being paired with Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy. 

Siwa opened up about her experience on an episode of Ellen in November 2021, saying that when she was approached by the show, she assumed she’d have to dance with a male partner.

‘Immediately, when I got the email to do it, I was like, “Oh awesome… oh I’m gonna have to dance with a dude, that’s gonna be weird,”‘ she admitted.

JoJo Siwa marks the one-year anniversary of her coming out

Anniversary: In January, Siwa celebrated her first anniversary of being out of the closet, and gave a speech to fans in Bakersfield, telling them, ‘No matter who you love, it’s okay’

The star added she was still ‘down’ to do the show, but then realized there was an option to dance with a female.

‘Immediately, without thinking twice, I was like, “This is what’s right for me.” I am so happy with the outcome of me coming out,’ she said.

‘The world has taken it so positively and it’s impacted so many young kids in such a way that, hearing adults say, “I wish I had someone like you when I was growing up,” that make me know that the kids that are little have someone like me,’ she added.

Siwa ended up taking home second place, after losing to NBA player Iman Shumpert and his partner Daniella Karagach, but was grateful for the experience.

‘I will take second every single day if that means that I got to make it to the finale. If it means I got to make the friend that I did in Jenna,’ she told Entertainment Tonight after the finale. ‘It if means that I got to have the experiences and life changes that I’ve had in the last 10 weeks. …It’s worth so much to me and I’m so grateful forever.’ 

Making history: Last year she became the first contestant on Dancing With the Stars to have a same-sex partner, after being paired with Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy: Siwa and Chmerkovskiy pictured in 2021