Jedward's John Grimes Speaks Out Against Weight Trolls Amid TV Return
John Grimes, one half of the pop duo Jedward, has bravely addressed cruel online comments about his weight gain as he makes a television comeback on Celebrity Ex On The Beach. The 34-year-old singer, who rose to fame with his twin brother Edward on The X Factor in 2009, shared an empowering message with fans, explaining that his more mature physique has drawn comparisons to his slimmer pop star days.
Embracing a Natural Body and Defying Expectations
In a candid Instagram post, John stripped off his sparkly red sequinned shirt to showcase his chest and abs, penning a heartfelt note. He wrote, "Here I am before going into [Celebrity Ex On The Beach]. I feel a lot of people that watch reality TV expect everyone to have the perfect beach body. Well, I’ve got a natural body and I’m happy with how I am." He added that the hurtful comments about his weight and comparisons to his past self are unwarranted, stating, "I can’t wear skinny jeans and be Jepic 24/7."
John emphasised his commitment to authenticity, saying, "I’m just chilling on the show and being my most stripped back self, so here’s to keeping it real and that should always be enough." This move highlights his resilience against body-shaming trolls and his focus on self-acceptance during his return to the spotlight.
TV Spoiler Sparks Fury Among Show Bosses
In addition to the weight-related backlash, John has reportedly angered Celebrity Ex On The Beach producers by spoiling a key storyline. Last week, he confirmed on Instagram that he has rekindled his relationship with ex-girlfriend Sarah Carragher after reuniting on the show in Tenerife. The couple was seen sharing a steamy kiss in the trailer, with their relationship left on a cliffhanger, but John posted photos of them together at the show's launch party in front of Tower Bridge.
Captioning the snap, he wrote, "Here's to a new chapter and making memories with the best girl xxx." A source told The Sun that this revelation has made his storyline on the series "pointless," as cast members were instructed to maintain mystery around relationships to keep viewers tuning in. The source explained, "John posting that he's back with his ex was terrible timing. Bosses are fuming, but it's not like he did it on purpose."
Reflecting on Love and Regrets
Ahead of the new series, John opened up to the Daily Mail about his relationship with Sarah, admitting that the show has helped them "deal with love life regrets." He said, "It was a really good feeling because we always got along even after we weren't together. She has tried dating different people and so did I, but then at the same time you don't know all you had until they're gone."
John joked about being a "keeper" and reflected on how the experience allowed him to approach the relationship differently. He noted, "I think going on this show dealt with those love life regrets because it gave me the chance to be reunited with an ex and then go about it differently. So now here I am, going back differently." This insight adds depth to his personal journey amid the controversies surrounding his TV appearance.
