JoJo Siwa says relationship with Chris Hughes is ‘not platonic anymore’

It’s official — JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes are dating.

“It’s not platonic any more,” Siwa revealed in a Monday interview with The Guardian. “It’s been a beautiful development, a beautiful connection, and I’m absolutely head over heels for him and he’s the same way.”

Siwa, 22, and Hughes, 32, first crossed paths in the public eye while starring as housemates on the latest season of Celebrity Big Brother U.K. After the Dance Moms alum walked away from a tense encounter with fellow competitor Mickey Rourke — who was ejected from the house after directing homophobic remarks at her — Siwa and Hughes forged a bond that was fast-tracked by the fishbowl of Big Brother, and quickly led to speculation about their relationship.

“This is a very genuine connection — we’re not faking a thing,” Siwa continued. “People can see our chemistry, and they got to see it develop.”

As for those speculating otherwise, Siwa made it clear that she intends to enjoy her happiness and tune out the gossip.

“I won’t ever speak for him, but for me personally, the happiness in my life just radiates off of me right now,” she shared. “Literally yesterday, I was massaging my cheeks; I’ve never [before] been in pain from smiling so much.”

Reflecting on a morning spent lying in bed together, she added, “You know when you’re alone, how you feel? You are your true, raw self. I’ve obviously felt like that before, but never around one single person.”

Siwa also noted that the relationship has already inspired pushback, which she has made an effort to shrug off. “I do live this very, very big public life that has so many eyeballs on it, and it can get really hard to navigate,” Siwa said. “But I’m also living a human life. You can’t help who you love.”

In the lead-up to the announcement, Siwa and Hughes shared a series of affectionate photos across their social media profiles, soft-launching their relationship. A May 21 Instagram carousel from Siwa included pictures of her and Hughes cuddling, having breakfast, and celebrating her birthday.

On June 1, Hughes incited further speculations with a Snapchat photo in which the shirtless Love Island alum plants a kiss on Siwa’s forehead while she rests her head on his chest,

“Sleeepinnn beauty,” he wrote in small text.

Around the same time, Hughes shared photos of himself spending time with Siwa’s parents, Jessalynn and Tom, on his Instagram Stories. One photo showed Hughes playing video games with Siwa’s dad, whom he called “my boy.” In a video, captured by Jessalynn, Siwa grabs Hughes and plants a kiss on his head.

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When Siwa began her time in the Big Brother house, she publicly identified as a lesbian and was in a relationship with Australian actor Kath Ebbs, who is nonbinary. After exploring her sexual and gender identity on the show, Siwa announced that she identifies as queer. In April, after CBB UK wrapped, Ebbs, 27, and Siwa announced they were going their separate ways.

Ebbs then shared a 13-minute TikTok video (which has since been deleted), revealing that they felt “humiliated” after Siwa ended their relationship at the after-party for the show, with Chris in the next room.”

A week later, Siwa joined The Bachelor alum Nick Viall for an episode of his Viall Files podcast, in which she claimed that Ebb gave a “misleading” account of the night and firmly denied claims that she cheated on Ebbs with Hughes.

“I understand Chris and I are very tight. We have this very beautiful bond, this very beautiful connection, but don’t paint it out to look like I cheated on you with him because I did not,” she said, directing her words to Ebbs. “I will nail my feet into the ground, and I will stand on that ground. I did not, I would not, and I have not.”

As for the romantic potential in her relationship with Hughes, Siwa hinted at the time that it was a possibility: “Life is life, and you never know where life is gonna take you,” she said. “But I can tell you today, right now, Chris and I are friends. We have a great special bond but we are friends.”