Pop singer and former Dance Moms / Nickelodeon star JoJo Siwa is facing online backlash for apparently lifting Tool’s wrench design, used as the cover of their 1991 demo 72826 and various merch, for an apparent new merch drop of her own.
Siwa took to TikTok to unveil a vest and T-shirt design that only slightly varies from the Tool’s infamous phallic wrench. The main differences: The top head of Jojo’s wrench is angled to the right; “JOJO” replaces the “TOOL” text on the handle; and the two bottom heads of the wrench have a different inner profile.
The merch looks to be tied to the release of Siwa’s new EP Guilty Pleasure, which drops on Friday (July 12th). A teaser of the music video for the title track shows a construction theme in line with the aforementioned merch.
As of this posting, the items bearing the wrench design do not appear to be available for purchase yet. However, Tool’s legion of hardcore fans was quick to point out the similarities on social media, with one fan writing, “Why is Jojo Siwa using Tool’s penis wrench logo for her merch? Lol I’m so confused.”
Further complicating matters, the original Tool design has already been the source of long-running legal drama for the band. The original artist Cam De Leon sued Tool in 2005 for the continued use of the design, claiming that he had not been properly compensated for its continued use after he initially created it for the group in the early 1990s.
De Leon was awarded $450,000 in a settlement, but then Tool’s insurer Clarendon National Insurance Co., took them to court to dispute the insurance company’s liability in covering the cost of De Leon’s settlement. The legal issues were finally cleared up in Tool’s favor in 2015, but the drama potentially led to the lengthy gap in recording and touring prior to the release of Fear Inoculum , with guitarist Adam Jones telling Yahoo it was “the worst thing that’s ever happened to us.”
As for Siwa, it’s the second time in recent months that she’s been accused of copying a rock band. Back in April, her KISS-like appearance at the iHeart Radio Music Awards raised eyebrows, though Gene Simmons came to her defense, telling TMZ that “she looks cool” while admitting that the outfit looked like his own KISS attire.
Why is Jojo Siwa using Tool’s penis wrench logo for her merch? Lol I’m so confused. pic.twitter.com/MaPamiELGV
— ❤️🔥Space Budgie❤️🔥 (@Space_Budgie) July 7, 2024
@itsjojosiwa Get Effin ready.🦺🛠️ GUILTY PLEASURE Song & Official Music Video COMING IN 12 DAYS. GUILTY PLEASURE my DEBUT EP available EVERYWHERE July 12th🖤✝️🛠️🦺🐻!!! Guilty Pleasure•Balance Baby•Yesterdays Tomorrows Today•Choose UR fighter•KARMA• COUNTDOWN IS ON
