Updated: February 9, 2021
Jaden Hossler is the latest TikTok star to be called out for his problematic past.
After flying relatively under the radar during TikTokkergeddon, Jaden Hossler is now the subject of scrutiny after fans uncovered numerous homophobic and anti-trans tweets from the 19-year-old over the years, like calling a lesbian couple a “disgusting reality.”
Jaden also “liked” multiple hateful tweets, including one calling the LGBTQ+ community “annoying,” another agreeing that Victoria’s Secret should not have plus-size or trans models, and many saying trans people are not valid.
Understandably, fans were upset. Many called for Jaden to be “cancelled” and hoped the TikTok community would keep the same energy for Jaden as they have for Addison Rae, Chase Hudson and other stars who have recently been involved in scandals.
Jaden is not the only Sway (er, ex-Sway) boy to be called out for homophobic remarks. Just last month, Bryce Hall found himself in the middle of some major drama when he tweeted that ‘alt TikTok’ is “heterophobic” — a social construct that objectively does not exist.
Now, Jaden has responded. In a series of tweets early this morning, Jaden addresses his past problematic activity online by asking fans to judge him for who he is now, rather than who he was years ago.
He says he genuinely loves all people and tries to use his platform now to promote love, not hate. Jaden says he understands if fans no longer want to support him, but that his family “is open to everyone.”
He finishes by saying he is proud of who he has become and he’s excited to see where he’s going.
i know who i am now and i’m proud of what i’ve become
— jxdn (@jxdn) July 14, 2020
and i’m excited to see where i’m going <3
Jaden seemingly tweeted-and-deleted the closest he’s come to apologising, writing he understands if he gets hate because he hurt a lot of people with his words. Many fans are frustrated with the star for refusing to properly apologise and spinning the narrative to be about Jaden rather than those he hurt.
Months later, Jaden has issued yet another apology honour of his 20th birthday. The online personality says he’s addressing the tweets once again because “it is apparent that people seem to think I am part of the KKK.”
Jaden goes on to say that he receives comments about his problematic content “daily” and is “beyond sorry that I put myself in a position to be portrayed as an awful and disgusting human being.”
Not sure if this qualifies as an apology, but okay.