Did JoJo Siwa Steal 'Karma' From Brit Smith? The Mess Behind The Rebrand, Explained

JoJo Siwa is the last of the famous Nickelodeon kids and, according to her own claims, the first pioneer in the gay pop genre. For many online, she's the face of Gen Z cringe. Her new single "Karma" has jumped to the top of the pop charts, ranking as the third bestselling song in the country… but it's not Siwa's version of "Karma," it is one sung by another artist twelve years ago.

So what's going on? Let's explain.

What Is Up With Jojo Siwa's Pivot?

JoJo Siwa became famous through children's entertainment, television, and internet celebrity. However, as she's gotten older (she is now twenty) she has sought to start appealing to a more adult audience. Siwa's chosen method of doing this is to apply face paint and write songs with more adult themes than her 2017 hit "Boomerang." "Karma" is one of these new songs, and begins with Siwa confessing to being a "bad girl."

JoJo Siwa's "bad girl" rebrand has largely been met with criticism and confusion. Many online seem to strongly dislike the new image and don't believe it's authentic.

Who Originally Sang "Karma"?

JoJo Siwa did not write "Karma." Instead, the songwriting and production team Rock Mafia wrote it over a decade ago, originally intending it for Miley Cyrus. Twelve years ago, another artist, Brit Smith, recorded the song alongside a music video, but at the time the song was not released.

Users on TikTok unearthed the Brit Smith version of the song, posting side-by-side comparison videos of JoJo Siwa and the older music video. Many of them claim to really like the Brit Smith version, and enough of them are buying it that "Karma," a single meant for release in 2012 but never put out, is now the number three song on the Billboard charts in 2024.

Some have claimed people are only streaming Brit Smith's "Karma" so they can "spite" JoJo Siwa. It is true that Siwa has a devoted base of haters, who find her very corporate-feeling pivot off-putting.

What Is Brit Smith's Response?

Brit Smith, who quit the music industry several years ago, expressed enthusiasm and gratefulness for the popularity of her older version of "Karma." Posting on TikTok, Smith shared her joy at seeing people listen to and share her work twelve years after it was originally made. She has expressed no opinion on whether the JoJo Siwa version is good or not.

For the full history of Jojo Siwa's "Karma," be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.