News | Entertainment
21 Dec 2025 4:51
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    JoJo was grateful for the support of Taylor Swift during her career struggles

    The 'Leave (Get Out)' hitmaker - whose real name is Joanna Levesque - spent years unable to release music as Blackground Records had the rights to her recorded voice but didn't have a distribution deal in place, and while she found much needed support in other stars such as the 'Cruel Summer' hitmaker and mutual pal Selena Gomez, a 'Galentine's Day' celebration at the pop superstar's home ultimately left JoJo feeling it was "too late" for her.


    In an extract from her memoir 'Under the Influence' published by People magazine, JoJo wrote: "Taylor was so sweet and complimentary, and she seemed excited that Selena had brought me along with her. She mentioned deepcut songs of mine she loved and kept saying how f***** up the lawsuit was, the fact that I couldn't put out music.

    "I don't remember if she already knew what was going on from social media or if I'd told her about the situation, but she was - in no uncertain terms - letting me know she was on my side and believed in me.

    "I appreciated Taylor's kind words, but I thought I could see in the eyes of everyone else at the party that they felt bad for me.

    "Maybe they thought I was never going to get out of this limbo. Or that it was too late for me even if I did.

    "Maybe they could tell I didn't have the money or the parents who could help dig me out of any holes I might find myself in. Maybe they saw the imposter in my eyes. Then again, perhaps that was all my own projection."

    The 33-year-old singer delighted in being welcomed by Taylor and Selena, having spent the early days of her career "conditioned" not to be friends with potential chart rivals.

    She wrote: "This was such a big departure from the female popstar polarisation of the 1990s and early 2000s.

    "It was the 2010s now, and the 'girl boss'/'girl gang' vibe was having a real moment.

    "Earlier in my career, I'd been conditioned to keep girls like Selena and Taylor close but never let them really know what I was doing, going through or thinking. To be 'strategic.' But I wasn't.

    " sometimes wished I could be, but I simply liked who I liked and didn't like who I didn't like. While some of my peers could 'play the game' like their lives depended on it, I never could quite figure out how to posture and politic and not feel like a big huge phony in the process.

    "I genuinely enjoyed these girls, and although two of them were among the most famous women in the world, we had the shared experience of starting out very young, and I was happy to be let into the fold, part of a group.

    "We stayed up late, wore sweats and no make-up, laughed until we cried, and ate copious amounts of French fries. It was awesome."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     20 Dec: Bonnie Blue is set to be deported from Bali and banned from the island for a decade
     20 Dec: Sydney Sweeney has confirmed her "boobs [are] real"
     20 Dec: James L. Brooks is "sure" Jack Nicholson will work again
     20 Dec: David Letterman is relieved not to be hosting a late-night talk show anymore
     20 Dec: Taylor Swift broke down in tears about the tragedies that impacted her Eras Tour
     20 Dec: King Charles will address the nation about his "recovery journey" on Friday (12.12.25) night
     20 Dec: Lewis Capaldi has dismissed speculation of a feud with Taylor Swift, branding the rumours "hogwash"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A steep challenge juggling a busy calendar for incoming Black Ferns head coach Whitney Hansen More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Sport New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle has shed light on the challenge sports administrators face between balancing transparency and confidentiality More...



     Today's News

    Living & Travel:
    One lucky Whangarei lotto player's just become a multi-millionaire five days shy of Christmas 21:56

    Entertainment:
    Bonnie Blue is set to be deported from Bali and banned from the island for a decade 21:50

    Entertainment:
    Sydney Sweeney has confirmed her "boobs [are] real" 21:20

    Christchurch:
    Four people have been injured, one seriously, following a three-vehicle crash in Dunsandel in Canterbury 21:16

    International:
    Jeffrey Epstein documents partially published by US Department of Justice — as it happened 21:06

    Skiing:
    Valentino Guseli wins snowboard halfpipe bronze at Copper Mountain World Cup 21:06

    Entertainment:
    James L. Brooks is "sure" Jack Nicholson will work again 20:50

    Law and Order:
    A first look through the Epstein files reveals celebrity snaps, police notes and a lot of Bill Clinton 20:26

    Entertainment:
    David Letterman is relieved not to be hosting a late-night talk show anymore 20:20

    International:
    Epstein files contain new photo of former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor 20:16


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd