NFL player Jonathan Owens found himself in hot water last year after he claimed he didn't know who Simone Biles was when they first started dating.
He also said he thought he was "the catch" in the relationship.
The remarks came in December when Owens appeared on The Pivot podcast.
He said of Biles, who he met on the elite dating app Raya.
“I didn't know who she was at the time, but the first thing that I saw was that she had a bunch of followers, so in my mind, I’m like, ‘She gotta be good.'"
Owens continued, explaining how it was possible he didn't know about the most decorated gymnast in history.
“When she won the Olympics, I was in college. We didn't have NBC. We didn't have Olympic channels. And we're in [football] camp in late July, early August, so I'm not really paying attention. So, I never would've had a moment where I would have watched.”
Simone, who was also present, was laughing during the segment.
Later, responding to a question, Owens replied that he was "the catch" in the relationship.
“I always say we, the man, are the catch. I always say we the catch.”
While Biles didn't think anything of the comments, people on social media did not take too kindly to them.
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And though the couple, who married in 2023, didn't initially address the backlash, Jonathan did have a message for critics, posting a photo of the couple on Instagram with the caption:
"Unbothered 😂❤️ Just know we locked in over here 🤞🏽"
During a recent appearance on the Call Her Daddypodcast, the seven-time Olympic medalist revealed the online comments about her husband eventually got to her.
She first tackled his remark about being "the catch" in the relationship.
“He never said I wasn’t a catch, he said he was a catch."
"Because he is. I’ve never met a man like him.”
And then Biles talked about the online hate.
“I thought everything was OK, and then I go on Twitter and everybody’s like, ‘Divorce this man. He’s mean!’”
“I’m like, ‘He’s the sweetest. He praises the ground that I walk on.’ Truly, I’ve never met a man like him. … He truly goes out of his way to do anything for me.”
Biles believes fans were upset that she wasn't a part of the interview in which Owens made the comments.
“That interview had nothing to do with me. It was all for him."
"So, I think they were mad that he didn’t include me in the interview. "
"But he has to have his moments, too, and I let him have it.”
“There was nothing foul about it."
But at the end of the day, the backlash had its effects.
“I thought it was hilarious at first, and then they hurt my feelings."
“One night I broke down, and I’m like, ‘Why are you guys talking about my husband like this? You don’t know him. You don’t know who he is and if anybody’s met him, they know he’s the sweetest guy, and will do anything for anybody.'”
“That really hurt that they were talking about my husband like that. Because for me, it’s like, talk about me all you want, but don’t come for my family, never."
“You're not going to know I cried about it, but I be crying about some stuff. But I only cry about it because I can't clap back. Just know that."
You can watch below.
Simone Biles 'Call Her Daddy' Revelations & Breaking Down Over Husband Intv Backlashyoutu.be
People on social media agreed with Biles that critics of Owens' comments don't know him like she does.
@lovelyti At the end of the day only she and him know what their life is like and what they see in each other. From the outside looking in those optics did not look good, but if she says she found it funny. She's living this and knows the truth so I'm happy for her.
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@lovelyti lol Idk why it is so hard for people to respect happy relationships. They did all the essays and thought pieces just for her to turn around and basically tell y'all worry bout y'all self \ud83d\ude02
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@lovelyti Hey, if she loves it then I like it \ud83d\ude02. That\u2019s their relationship and people got to respect it even if they don\u2019t agree. A lot, of the woman saying that are the same ones wishing they even had a man ANY man\ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffd\u200d\u2640\ufe0f
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@PageSix Only u can determine what is acceptable in your marriage, some men can\u2019t stand to be looked as less than their partners, but he could have been joking and somehow it went over everyone\u2019s head, but again only she can determine how she is gonna be treated
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A few, though, are still a bit bitter.
@lovelyti All I know is that she is #GOAT\ud80c\udcf5 . He can't say the same. I'm not saying he doesn't bring something to the table, but I'm \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02 on who the better catch in the relationship is. SMDH. I don't mind her defending him. I just hope it's appreciated.
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@lovelyti She's delusional. What man literally says he's the prize?? No she was the gymnast superstar that was known. He's no one that nobody knows but he feels he's the catch.
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@NBCNews No offense to Simone but her husband needed to learn a lesson in respect. Bet he won\u2019t be so reckless when speaking about her in the future.\n\nHim: \u201cI\u2019m the catch.\u201d\n\nTwitter: \ud83e\udd28\ud83e\udd28\ud83e\udd28
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@people Girl bye. He was talking about you. He even went so far as to say he didn\u2019t even know who you were. The question was literally about you. Just saving face because he embarrassed you.
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We're sorry they had to endure so much criticism but glad to know Biles knew what Owens meant by his comments.
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Simone Biles Says She 'Broke Down' Over Backlash To Husband's Relationship Comments
NFL player Jonathan Owens found himself in hot water last year after he claimed he didn't know who Simone Biles was when they first started dating.
He also said he thought he was "the catch" in the relationship.
The remarks came in December when Owens appeared on The Pivot podcast.
He said of Biles, who he met on the elite dating app Raya.
Owens continued, explaining how it was possible he didn't know about the most decorated gymnast in history.
Simone, who was also present, was laughing during the segment.
Later, responding to a question, Owens replied that he was "the catch" in the relationship.
While Biles didn't think anything of the comments, people on social media did not take too kindly to them.
And though the couple, who married in 2023, didn't initially address the backlash, Jonathan did have a message for critics, posting a photo of the couple on Instagram with the caption:
Now Biles is speaking out herself.
During a recent appearance on the Call Her Daddypodcast, the seven-time Olympic medalist revealed the online comments about her husband eventually got to her.
She first tackled his remark about being "the catch" in the relationship.
And then Biles talked about the online hate.
Biles believes fans were upset that she wasn't a part of the interview in which Owens made the comments.
But at the end of the day, the backlash had its effects.
You can watch below.
Simone Biles 'Call Her Daddy' Revelations & Breaking Down Over Husband Intv Backlashyoutu.be
People on social media agreed with Biles that critics of Owens' comments don't know him like she does.
A few, though, are still a bit bitter.
We're sorry they had to endure so much criticism but glad to know Biles knew what Owens meant by his comments.
Happy first anniversary!