JoJo Siwa has weighed in on the public sparring surrounding her boyfriend Chris Hughes and his ex Olivia Attwood, telling listeners there are two sides to every story. The two-time Love Island finalists first crossed paths on the show in 2017, finishing as runners-up before splitting the following year. Attwood later said she sought therapy after dating Hughes and floated the idea that some reality stars are “acting” for the cameras, describing some participants as “shapeshifters.” The back-and-forth has persisted as fans parse the dynamics between the exes and Siwa’s relationship with Hughes.
When asked on social media about Hughes’ romance with Siwa—the pair met on Celebrity Big Brother—Attwood appeared to suggest the union was a publicity play, telling followers, “She’s really famous.” Siwa pushed back during a recent appearance on Radio Andy’s Smith Sisters Live, saying, “Always know that there are two sides to every single story—I don’t even know every side to every single story.” She described Hughes as “honestly, such a good guy that his mouth has stayed shut,” and lauded him as a simple man who loves his family, golf, horses and sports. Siwa added that both she and Hughes have faced online vitriol from their pasts, but that engaging with critics with proof would merely feed the “beast,” and that it wasn’t worth relitigating the past. The Daily Mail said it had contacted Attwood’s representatives for comment.
The interview came as Siwa described her romance with Hughes as unlike anything she had experienced before. She told listeners she is happy and has never wanted the future so badly, signaling a readiness to pursue long-term commitments such as marriage. She hinted that she now envisions a wedding with traditional elements—“a ring and I want my Dad to walk me down the aisle and I want a first dance and I want butterflies.” At the same time, Siwa opened up about her sexuality and the backlash she has endured since coming out as pansexual and later identifying as queer, noting the LGBTQIA+ community’s support as well as its harsher judgment at times.
“I’ve never protected a love that I have so much. I’ve never cared about another person so much,” she said. “I’ve never craved a wedding.” She acknowledged that the backlash hasn’t deterred her, but she emphasized that the way she is treated can influence the younger fans who look up to her. She urged people to be mindful of how their words may affect others, saying the message applies beyond sexuality and across all topics.
Siwa said she has faced a brutal response from some corners of the LGBTQ+ community as she navigates a relationship with a man after several high-profile same-sex relationships. She framed the discussion as a broader debate about love being love and about withholding judgment, especially when younger fans are watching. While she claimed to be unfazed personally, she stressed that the online environment can be damaging to others who admire her and may feel pressure to hide their own identities.
The couple has continued to make public appearances together. They recently reunited at a friend’s wedding in London, with Siwa trading her rhinestones for an elegant black gown that echoed a signature bow motif. Chris shared a collection of photos from the wedding on Instagram, captioning them, “A beautiful wedding in the city. Congratulation Mr & Mrs Lewis!” The two had connected in the Celebrity Big Brother house earlier in the year, and since leaving the show have grown closer and more inseparable according to public posts.
Commentary from Attwood’s camp did not immediately yield a response that could be independently verified by The Associated Press. Still, Siwa’s remarks underscore a broader conversation about the pressures of public life, romance in the social-media era, and the balance between private happiness and public scrutiny. Siwa did not retreat from addressing the fallout; instead, she framed the discussion around two truths that she says apply to many online narratives: there is more to every story than what emerges on the surface, and the best response can be quiet confidence rather than confrontation.
As the year continues, fans will watch how the couple navigates future public appearances and any further comments from Attwood or others in their orbit. For now, Siwa’s message to followers is one of resilience and responsibility: protect the people you care about, but also consider how words can influence young audiences who look up to her as a public figure in culture and entertainment.