Australian singer Betty Who, whose real name's Jessica Anne Newham, has found herself at a bit storm after comments she made about Reneé Rapp's sexuality. The remarks came during her appearance on a podcast called *Made It Out,* hosted by Mallorie Glownke. It dives deep and explores various lesbian topics and issues.
What's causing all this buzz?
The episode dropped on August 19 and kicked off with talk about JoJo Siwa and Fletcher, both well-known figures in queer circles. They've been pretty open about their relationships with women, which has earned them big followings among queer women. But this summer, they caught a lot off guard by announcing new relationships with men. JoJo Siwa's been linked with her *Big Brother UK* co-star Chris Hughes, while Fletcher sings about dating a guy in her song "Boy."
This news stirred up a lot within queer communities, triggering debates about queerbaiting and biophobia. Even Miley Cyrus chimed in with a cheeky comment during a Dreamland Pride promo in NYC, saying she's planning a "closet rescue mission" just in case JoJo Siwa decides she needs another nudge out.
Betty Who weighs in
On that podcast, Betty Who, who describes herself as "queer, bisexual," offered her take on it all by drawing parallels with her life. Back in 2020, she tied got married Zak Cassar, and she knows a thing or two about being in public's gaze.
"I think about those women all time, knowing right now they're probably dealing with so much," she said. At 33, she gets how tough it can be when public figures, viewed as representatives certain identities, change direction—sometimes leaving others in their wake wondering where they fit.
Betty Who brought up identity fluidity within what's often dubbed as "the alphabet mafia." She talked about how daunting it can be when people expect you fit neatly within a label and navigate those tricky waters.
"When Reneé Rapp says, ‘You'll never catch me dating a man,' it's hilarious, right? I love her confidence! But I also hope there's room if, years down line, she finds herself saying, ‘Well, surprise, I met a man and he's my forever.' That's okay too!"
Reneé Rapp, who came out as lesbian in 2024, has been dating fellow musician Towa Bird. They've been quite open about their relationship since March 2024.
Betty Who went on about love and identity, saying it "shouldn't be illegal fall in love." She playfully remarked on how community's evolved, joking how being straight almost feels outlawed, though she was quick add she was joking.
What people are saying
People wasted no time reacting, and many were none too pleased with Who's comments about Reneé Rapp. Critics say she's pushing an old stereotype: that women who love women just haven't found "right man" yet.
"Just because sexuality's fluid doesn't mean it's about ‘meeting right man,'" one person tweeted on X, formerly Twitter. Another pointed out that Who seemed like she was projecting her ideas onto Reneé Rapp, who's openly lesbian and happy with her girlfriend.
A TikTok response video highlighted how white bisexual women in relationships with men can feel sidelined, even if they gain certain privileges. This adds layers this bigger conversation about identity and who gets accepted in which spaces.
Betty Who hasn't made any further public responses about all this, and it seems her team hasn't replied any requests comment. Interestingly, original podcast episode video has been removed from TikTok.
This whole incident shows there's still plenty talk about in LGBTQ+ communities when it comes representation, identity, and balancing public images with private truths. As these discussions push on, there's a strong drive towards greater openness, inclusivity, and respect diverse experiences.
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