In the pressure cooker of Celebrity Big Brother, where every glance and whisper gets dissected, Chris Hughes has found himself defending a bond that’s raised eyebrows. The former Love Island star, known for his charm and quick quips, addressed the buzz around his close connection with pop sensation JoJo Siwa on April 25, his voice steady but tinged with frustration. The pair’s chemistry, sparked in the reality show’s fishbowl, has fueled tabloid headlines and viewer chatter, but Hughes is pushing back hard against the skeptics.
The drama kicked off when Hughes, 32, and Siwa, 21, hit it off in the Big Brother house, their banter and late-night chats catching the cameras’ attention. On April 14, during a live episode, Hughes raised pulses by calling Siwa “sexy” in a heated exchange that had host AJ Odudu smirking. Siwa, ever the showwoman, leaned into the moment, flashing her trademark grin. But what seemed like playful reality TV fodder snowballed into something bigger. By April 23, reports surfaced that Siwa’s partner, Dakayla Wilson, wouldn’t attend the CBB final, citing discomfort with the flirty vibe between Hughes and Siwa. The rumor mill churned, painting Hughes as a fame-chaser latching onto Siwa’s star power.
Hughes didn’t mince words when he addressed the speculation. On April 26, in an emotional interview with ITV, he fought back tears, his voice cracking as he called the accusations “unfair.” He described Siwa as a “genuine mate,” someone who got him through the house’s relentless scrutiny. “She’s real, you know? We clicked. It’s not some game for clout,” he said, his jaw tight. The interview, raw and unpolished, showed a side of Hughes rarely seen on reality TV—a guy stung by the narrative but determined to set it straight.
The backlash hasn’t come from nowhere. On April 25, radio host Will Njobvu told The Sun that Hughes was “strategic,” suggesting he cozied up to Siwa to ride her fame. Njobvu’s comments landed like a jab, but Hughes had allies in his corner. A close friend, speaking to GB News on April 24, called the “creepy” label slapped on Hughes “total rubbish.” The friend insisted Hughes was just being himself—chatty, warm, a bit cheeky. “That’s Chris. Always has been,” they said.
Siwa, for her part, hasn’t stayed quiet. On April 26, she told Daily Star she saw Hughes as “more than a friend,” hinting at plans to hang out post-show. Her words, delivered with that Siwa spark, stirred the pot further, but she stopped short of defining the relationship. The pair’s dynamic, whether platonic or something more, has kept viewers glued to their screens, with CBB ratings spiking as the finale looms.
The facts are these: Hughes and Siwa met in the Celebrity Big Brother house in early April. Their friendship, marked by public flirtations, prompted media scrutiny. Hughes addressed the criticism directly on April 26, denying any ulterior motives. Siwa confirmed their bond in a separate interview the same day. No official statements from the CBB production or Siwa’s team have clarified the status of her relationship with Wilson. The show’s finale, set for April 27, will likely keep the spotlight on this saga.