JoJo Siwa’s boyfriend, English TV personality Chris Hughes, has publicly defended the pop star after she faced online backlash over their new relationship.
The former Love Island contestant and sports presenter spoke to The Sun’s Fabulous magazine about the criticism Siwa has received since they went public with their romance in June. He revealed that social media trolls have not only targeted Siwa with biphobic comments, but have also questioned his own sexuality.
“I do feel a sense of responsibility that being with me has led to her getting hate,” Hughes said. “I don’t understand how anyone could be mean to someone as caring as her.”
Siwa, who came out in 2021, has previously described her sexuality using various terms, including “gay,” “pansexual,” and “lesbian.” However, during her time on Celebrity Big Brother UK earlier this year—where she met Hughes—Siwa opened up about feeling more at home with the term “queer.”
“I feel, like, so queer, do you know what I mean?” she said on the show. “I’ve always told myself I’m a lesbian, and I think being here I’ve realised: ‘Oh, I’m not a lesbian, I’m queer,’ and I think that’s really cool.”
At the time, Siwa was dating nonbinary actor and DJ Kath Ebbs. Rumours swirled after the show wrapped, suggesting Siwa had ended things with Ebbs following a growing connection with Hughes, especially after he shared a photo of them in bed on Snapchat.
Siwa later confirmed their relationship was no longer platonic in an interview with The Guardian. In another interview with The Daily Mail’s You magazine, she reflected on the pressure to conform to labels within the LGBTQ+ community.
“You just get put in this world where you feel like, because you now have said, ‘Oh, I’m a lesbian,’ you have to be a lesbian. And the truth is, sexuality is fluid,” she said.
Hughes echoed her sentiments, clarifying that Siwa’s relationship with him does not negate her queerness.
“She’s not now straight just because she’s with me,” he insisted. “Sexuality can be fluid, and you should be able to love who you want without judgment. She is still part of the LGBTQ+ community, she always will be.”
The 31-year-old presenter also shared that he has experienced homophobic abuse since the couple went public.
“I’ve had more people call me ‘gay’ in the last two months of my life than ever before,” Hughes said. “I may be feminine in the way I do things, but I wouldn’t change the way I am for anything. I cry a lot, but we live in a world where toxic masculinity exists, and there isn’t an ounce of that in my body.”
Despite the negativity, both Siwa and Hughes say they’ve also been met with an outpouring of love and support. For Siwa, who rose to fame on Dance Moms and became a global LGBTQ+ icon for young fans, embracing her identity on her own terms remains central, even as public opinion shifts.
