Simone Biles is seeking to clarify controversial comments made by her husband Jonathan Owens during a 2023 interview on the podcast “The Pivot.”
The 11-time Olympian was responding to criticism leveled at her co-star following remarks he made during a recent episode of last year’s Netflix documentary, “The Rising of Simone Biles.”
While appearing on “The Pivot” with hosts Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor, Owens was asked who he thought was the “hook” in his relationship with Biles.
“I always say the man is the hook,” he replied, before Crowder asked how the NFL star “hooked” her. “Yeah, that’s how she got me off, that’s the problem,” Owens said.
The Chicago Bears player caused controversy online with comments that many considered sexist and derogatory.
However, on the show “Simone Biles Rising,” the gymnast responded to Owens’ comments by laughing.
“Social media gives [followers] a false sense of reality that they actually know who you are and how you operate,” Biles said during the Oct. 25 episode.
“Most of the time, they don’t understand the mental impact it has, especially in an Olympic year.” “I know we signed up to be screened at the gym, but when you guys try to talk about him or my family, yeah, I’m going to attack you guys,” she continued.
“Most of the time, I bite my tongue, but now, yeah, I have a voice, I’ve always had a voice. Just because you didn’t think I wouldn’t see it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t respond. It’s crazy.”
Biles and Owens tied the knot in April 2023 after getting together in March 2020. Since the two started dating, they’ve built a home together in Houston, Texas.
To Biles, their love is more meaningful than “the amount of trophies and medals and accolades” she ha. “This is not a way to measure love,” said Vails.
In all criticism last year, happy couples have proved that they are beyond negation. “Just know that we’re stuck here together,” Owens wrote on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Biles said she and Owens are in a relationship “for life.” He also dismissed the backlash in a June 2024 interview with Us Weekly.
“I didn’t realize it for a while because I had all my social media notifications turned off,” Owens told the magazine. “I was actually with my mom and Simone when the movie came out, so I made them read the book, comments and all.
I try to stay away from that and obviously if you feel like things are getting out of hand, that’s when you reach out and say something.
I don’t want to swear, but damn if you do, damn if you don’t,” he added to the publication. “If you say something, they will say something.
If you say nothing, they will say something.”So live your life. People are going to talk about you anyway, so do as you like,” he added.