JoJo Siwa breaks her silence on recall of Claire's makeup over asbestos concerns

Sonja Haller
Updated
The Nickelodeon star giggles through part of a video, but says that safety is a priority for her and the kids channel.

A week after Claire's announced it was voluntarily recalling the JoJo Siwa Makeup Set because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning saying it tested positive for asbestos, the Nickelodeon star is addressing the scandal.

Siwa, 16, released a YouTube video this weekend. She laughs at the start, saying "I was gonna start this video all serious and dramatic but that's not who I am. That's not what this video is about."

But the "Dance Moms" alum, known for her colorful wardrobe and signature big hair bows, goes onto say that "safety is myself and Nickelodeon’s No. 1 priority in everything, in every JoJo product and in everything out there.”

Misplaced trust

Siwa said in the video that she put too much trust in other people.

"This product is something that, with a lot of things, that I put my trust into other people’s hands. We are working really, really hard to make sure that this product is recalled and off all shelves,” she said. “And also that anyone who has this product, you can get a refund. … If it’s used or it’s unused, you can get a full refund.”

Siwa, who has gained a massive following of tweens on YouTube with 9.8 million subscribers, thanked her fans and told them she doesn't take the issue lightly.

"I thank you for understanding, because it is serious to me, and it means a lot to me,” Siwa said. “’Cause it is my name, and it is my brand, and it is my face — quite literally.”

Claire's says makeup is safe

Claire's said in an email to USA TODAY last week that it would provide a full refund to any customer who purchased the product.

Claire's also said it "voluntarily recalled the JoJo Cosmetic Kit out of an abundance of caution."

"Claire’s stands behind the safety of this item and all other Claire’s cosmetic items, as such small trace amounts are considered acceptable under European and Canadian cosmetic safety regulations." the company said. "In addition, last year Claire’s moved to talc-free cosmetic manufacturing to prevent any further concerns about talc contamination. Claire’s also supports increased FDA oversight of personal care products."

In March, the FDA announced that three products from Claire's and one from Justice were found to contain asbestos.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JoJo Siwa breaks her silence on recall of Claire's makeup over asbestos concerns