Simone Biles Defends Husband Jonathan Owens Over Criticism for Wearing Her Olympic Gold Medal
3 min read
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Simone Biles, the world-renowned gymnast, recently stood up for her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, after he faced backlash for wearing her Olympic gold medal in photos. The controversy arose when fans noticed Owens donning the medal that Biles had won during the Paris Games, leading to a wave of criticism online.
The 27-year-old gymnast was quick to respond to the negative comments. Under a video posted by TikToker Kiera Breaugh, who critiqued the Chicago Bears player, Simone Biles expressed her frustration, saying, “Crazy thing is, I put my medal on every single one of my family members and took pictures. So don’t ever make assumptions.” She further added, “Like y’all are so f–ing miserable. Leave us alone.”
@kierabreaugh Replying to @Simone Biles ♬ original sound – Kiera Breaugh
Biles’ defense came after fans attacked Owens, 29, for proudly wearing the medal in several pictures. In one of the snapshots, the couple, who got married in 2023, is seen smiling at the camera, while another shows them sharing a kiss. Owens, holding up the medal, captioned the post with a heartfelt message: “Witnessing history every time you step on the mat 😍🔥 Congrats baby on becoming the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history!!!!” He continued, “Just wow!!!! 8 of them!!!!! So thankful I was there to see it ❤️🤍💙.”
Despite Owens’ celebratory post, some fans couldn’t help but express their disapproval. One Instagram user commented, “But why are you wearing it? How odd,” while another added, “I’m annoyed that he’s holding it like bfffr it’s not YOURS 😭.” A third critic joked, “Mr. Simone Biles, if you don’t give that woman back her medal like bffr 😂😭.”
Biles’ response was firm and supportive, emphasizing that sharing the joy of her accomplishments with her loved ones, including Owens, is a personal and meaningful gesture. Her statement highlighted that Owens had every right to be proud of her achievements and that the couple’s private moments should not be subject to public scrutiny.
The gymnast’s achievements did not stop there; after securing her eighth Olympic medal, Biles went on to win gold in the individual all-around competition. Owens continued to celebrate his wife’s success, posting another message on Instagram that read, “Greatness 🐐 I love you so much baby ❤️🫶🏽💙 You accomplish whatever you set your mind to, and do it with so much grace. 9 time Olympic medalist and counting!!!! So proud to be your husband 🤞🏽🥇.”
The criticism toward Owens is not entirely new. In a December 2023 appearance on the “Pivot” podcast, he referred to himself as the “catch” in their relationship and mentioned that he initially did not know who Biles was when they first met. This remark led to further backlash, with trolls mocking him on social media. However, both Biles and Owens have consistently shown that they are unaffected by the negativity, with Owens sharing a montage of photos captioned, “Unbothered 😂❤️ Just know we locked in over here 🤞🏽.”
Biles has also openly discussed the toll the scrutiny has taken on her mental health. In an April interview on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, she reiterated her husband’s worth and defended his comments, stating, “He said he was a catch. Because he is! I’ve never met a man like him.” The following month, she addressed the issue once more, advising critics to “respectfully f–k off.”
Owens echoed a similar sentiment in a July interview with Us Weekly, explaining that he pays little attention to the negative remarks. “I don’t mean to cuss, but like, damned if you do, damned if you don’t. If you say something, they’re going to say something; if you don’t say something, they’re going to say something,” he said. “So, just live your life. People are going to talk about you anyway, so you might as well do it the way you want to.”
Despite the criticism, Simone Biles and Owens continue to support each other publicly, demonstrating a strong and united front against the naysayers.
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Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
