Simone Biles found her happily ever after when she married the love of her life, but not everything has been smooth sailing for the gold medalist. The couple’s relationship faced unexpected challenges when netizens dug up an old comment Jonathan Owens made, using it to troll him relentlessly for months.
Despite the negativity and some people even hoping for their split, the couple has remained strong. Owens has shown unwavering support for Biles, including attending the Paris Olympics to cheer her on.
Fans Criticize Owens for Calling Himself “The Catch”
On December 20, 2023, Jonathan Owens appeared on The Pivot Podcast, where he was asked how he managed to attract someone as renowned as Simone Biles. The football player humorously flipped the question, suggesting that the real inquiry should be, “How did she pull me?” Owens then shared the story of how their relationship began.
He explained that he was single and in Houston when a friend suggested he try the dating app Raya. A few days after joining, Biles appeared on his feed. Her status as a gymnast piqued his interest since he hadn’t followed the sport closely. After swiping right, they matched. Owens was intrigued by her popularity on the app, noting her many followers, which hinted at her success in gymnastics. However, at the time, he didn’t realize who she was.
When Biles messaged him first, Owens initially thought it was a prank. His lack of recognition stemmed from being in college during her first Olympic triumph, where he was at a training camp without access to Olympic coverage. Their conversation started on a Tuesday, and by Friday, they were hanging out. Despite pandemic restrictions, Biles drove 45 minutes to see him, and the rest, as Owens put it, was history.
Owens admitted to initial fears about commitment, but they connected instantly and spent the night laughing. He concluded by saying, “It happened when you least expect it,” and playfully declared that he was “the catch” in their relationship.
The interview sparked controversy on TikTok and other social media platforms. Some viewers criticized Owens for his remarks, with one person calling it “insane.” Another expressed sympathy for Biles, saying, “This kinda made me sad for her.” Others on X (formerly Twitter) were more critical, calling Owens’ comments “stupid and disrespectful,” and suggesting he should have kept those thoughts to himself.
One viewer noted that no one would know who Owens was if it weren’t for Biles, questioning why a man who truly loved his wife would try to diminish her publicly. Some found the interview “cringe and embarrassing,” with one user predicting it could lead to a divorce, comparing the situation to Keke Palmer and her partner after a similar incident.
Despite the backlash, Biles stood by her husband, defending him against the online attacks and showing her unwavering support.
Simone Stands by Her Man No Matter What
In May 2024, Simone Biles secured a victory at the US Classic and addressed ongoing criticism about her relationship with Jonathan Owens on her Instagram Story. Owens had been in Hartford, Connecticut, cheering her on during the event. In her message, which was visible for 24 hours, Biles firmly stated, “I’m going to quickly address this, the joke was never a joke!”
She called out those who were “blatantly being disrespectful” toward her marriage and husband. Biles made it clear, saying, “So I’m gonna go ahead and say this one time. Respectfully, (expletive) off.”
She warned that if people continued to tweet or comment disrespectfully, she would block them. She added, “And no, I don’t need to touch grass…” The gymnast felt compelled to speak out because, despite it being five months since the podcast interview, Owens was still facing backlash.
Biles ended her post by expressing gratitude to their true supporters, saying, “We love y’all so much.” Owens shared his wife’s post on his Instagram, captioning it, “If y’all gone support!!!”
He urged those who couldn’t be respectful to “keep scrolling” and criticized the trend of “being fake mad about people y’all don’t know from a can of paint,” calling it “weirdo behavior.” Despite the podcast interview being months old, the couple continued to face questions and criticism about it in 2024.
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