Chris Hughes responds to backlash about JoJo Siwa’s sexuality: ‘She’s still part of the LGBTQ+ community’

In an interview with Fabulous Magazine, Love Island star Chris Hughes has opened up about trolls calling him “gay” and addressed backlash to his relationship with queer “Karma” singer JoJo Siwa.

In a new interview with The Sun’s Fabulous magazine, 32-year-old TV presenter Chris Hughes spoke about his “special” connection with 22-year-old musician JoJo Siwa, and addressed social media dwellers who call him “gay”.

“I’ve had more people call me ‘gay’ in the last two months of my life than ever before. But it doesn’t bother me – as long as people aren’t nasty, opinions are fine,” he 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.”

He added that crying is his “release” and he refuses to let anyone tell him that it makes him “less of a man”.

Hughes and Siwa met during this year’s series of ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother, during which they formed a close but plutonic bond. 

After leaving the reality show, the pair were spotted on numerous occasions cozying up together, and eventually confirmed in June that they are in a relationship.

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In his first interview since becoming official with JoJo Siwa, Chris Hughes has opened up about all aspects of their relationship. Speaking to The Sun, the reality TV star first addressed his and JoJo’s ten-year age gap. Chris insists the age gap never crossed his mind until people commented on it, going on to say “She’s one of the most mature people I’ve ever met, and I’m very immature! But it just works.” He also spoke about the backlash JoJo has received regarding her sexuality after saying she no longer identifies as a lesbian. Chris said “Joelle has been with girls all her life. She is bisexual. She’s not now straight just because she’s with me” noting that “Sexuality can be fluid, and you should be able to love who you want without judgement.” Chris even addressed his own sexuality, saying “I’ve had more people call me ‘gay’ in the last two months of my life than ever before.” “I may be feminine in the way I do things, but I wouldn’t change the way I am for anything.” As for his and JoJo’s relationship now, it is clearly going from strength to strength, with Chris saying “I’d love to marry her. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I run through scenarios of our wedding day. We’d have a proper English wedding and I can imagine her in a full wedding dress.” It seems kids may even be on the horizon for the two, with Chris adding “We both want kids. We come from loving families. My mum loves her. She’s my best friend.” #lgbt #queertiktok #bisexual #dating #jojosiwa #chrishughes #gay

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Since confirming that they are a couple, Siwa has faced backlash from some members of the LGBTQ+ community for entering into a relationship with a straight man, having previously identified as a lesbian.

During her time in the Big Brother house, Siwa said that she no longer identified as lesbian, and preferred the term “queer”. She later said that she felt “pressure” to describe herself as a lesbian earlier in her career.

During his interview, Hughes leapt to Siwa’s defence and reassured her fans that she is “still part of the LGBTQ+ community”.

“I’m very respectful of everything she’s been through. That’s her own personal journey,” he said.

“But it upsets me that she is being thrown hate online. I do feel a sense of responsibility that being with me has led to her getting hate. I don’t understand how anyone could be mean to someone as caring as her. 

“Joelle [Siwa’s real name] has been with girls all her life. She is bisexual. She’s not now straight just because she’s with me,” Hughes continued.

“Sexuality can be fluid, and you should be able to love who you want without judgement. She is still part of the LGBTQ+ community, she always will be. And while there’s been negativity, there has been so much love.”

He also took a moment to address the fact of the ten year age gap between them, urging that Siwa is “one of the most mature people” while he is “very immature”.

“But it just works,” he said, adding that their first kiss was “genuinely special” and that he “can’t keep [his] hands off her” now they are an item.

“I’d love to marry her. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I run through scenarios of our wedding day,” he admitted, and suggested that they “both want kids”.

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