Chris Hughes has revealed the moment he decided to speak out against online bullying targeting his girlfriend JoJo Siwa, describing it as the 'straw that broke the camel's back.' The former Love Island star, 33, took to social media after seeing a podcast clip where Chloe Burrows and Love Island star Ope Sowande joked about JoJo's trademark hair bows. In the post, Hughes wrote: 'Podcasts have just become a playground for any form of bullying…'
Build-Up of Negative Comments
Speaking to Metro, Hughes explained that his reaction was not solely about that specific clip but a culmination of weeks of scrolling through TikTok. 'I think it was just from scrolling through TikTok over the past week,' he said. 'I'd seen so many people have opinions on other people, which is just irrelevant. It's stuff which doesn't affect people's lives, but I see it so often on social media.'
Hughes, who met Siwa on Celebrity Big Brother, noted that the podcast landscape has changed. 'I love a podcast, right, and I respect podcasts which are educational, which are fun, which have substance to their interviews. But there are so many podcasts now and it's just girls slating other girls.' He recalled a comment that stuck with him: 'I saw someone write the other day, "Not everybody needs to do a podcast, and that's okay." It's so true.'
Obsessive Bullying Pattern
The TV presenter identified a specific Australian podcaster as a repeat offender. 'There's this Australian guy who does a podcast and they're just bullies. He has so many podcasts about JoJo and it's obsessive because her name is forever in his mouth.' Hughes lamented the decline of podcast quality: 'I used to really enjoy the early stage of podcasts, when they were fun and insightful and educational and had substance. But now anyone gets a microphone and the internet has turned into a playground for trying to demoralise people for absolutely no reason.'
JoJo's Resilience
Despite the constant scrutiny, Hughes marvels at Siwa's ability to ignore the negativity. 'She's an expert at dealing with things,' he said. 'Her mindset and her level of restraint when it comes to not reacting is genuinely incredible.' He avoids dwelling on negativity with her, preferring to focus on positive topics. 'I don't like talking about negative things. I don't like watching negative things. I don't really go on Twitter or X because I feel like everything on there is negative and that has a knock-on effect on your own mindset.'
This positive outlook has also helped them manage a long-distance relationship between the UK and the US West Coast. 'I think people perceive it to be really difficult because the West Coast is a lot further away than the East Coast,' Hughes said. 'The flight is never a fun one, let's be honest, but when we're together we have the best time. I absolutely love going over there and she loves coming over here.'
Relationship Beyond Labels
The couple has faced endless discussions about sexuality and labels, but Hughes insists they don't define their bond. 'JoJo has said, "You're attracted to who you're attracted to." That's the way she sees life, and we all see life differently. Our relationship works because we care for each other, we love being around each other and spending time with each other, the same way any other relationship would work. When you have a bond with someone, that's the most beautiful thing about it.'
While they have both spoken about marriage and children, Hughes says they are in no hurry. 'I come from a big family where having children and getting married is a big part of life and a really fun part of life. It's definitely something I'd want to experience. But when it happens, it happens when the time's right. For now, we're absolutely just enjoying each other's company and taking everything one week at a time.'
New Ventures and Misconceptions
Hughes recently partnered with Pet Database to launch 'The Microchip Shop' on Brighton seafront, encouraging pet owners to check microchip details and reunite lost animals with their families. The initiative adds to his eclectic career from Love Island finalist to horse racing presenter, documentary-maker, and campaign ambassador.
Asked about misconceptions people still have about him, Hughes laughed before admitting, 'Yeah, I'm very intelligent. People spend a bit of time around me and they realise I'm actually intelligent.' He recalled a debate about reality TV stars' intelligence, referencing Piers Morgan's show. 'Everyone has different levels of intelligence. We're all individuals. Going on a reality show doesn't define you.'
