Simone Biles’ Husband, Jonathan Owens, Faces Backlash For Wearing Her Olympic Gold Medal

Simone Biles’ NFL-star husband, Jonathan Owens, faced backlash from fans after he was spotted wearing her Olympic gold medal in a celebratory Instagram post. The controversy followed Biles’ triumphant return to the top of gymnastics, where she helped the USA secure its first team gold at the Paris Games since 2008. Biles, widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, contributed to the team’s impressive score of 171.296, defeating Italy and Brazil.

The victory was a historic moment for the USA, with teammates Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles playing crucial roles. For Biles, this win marked a significant comeback, and she has more opportunities ahead in individual events like the all-around, vault, balance beam and floor exercise.

Amid the celebrations, Owens, a safety for the Chicago Bears, posted a photo on Instagram wearing Biles’ gold medal. In the post, he expressed his pride, writing, “Witnessing history every time you step on the mat – Congrats baby on becoming the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history!!!! Just wow!!!! 8 of them!!!!! So thankful I was there to see it.” Owens has been in Paris to support Biles, having taken time off from his training schedule.

Biles responded to his heartfelt message with, “means the world you’re here,” highlighting their close bond. However, fans were not as forgiving, criticizing Owens for wearing the medal. Comments ranged from confusion to disapproval, with one user saying, “But why are you wearing it? How odd,” and another adding, “That’s Simone’s gold medal you’re holding, not yours my guy.”

The criticism extended beyond the photo. Fans brought up Owens’ past comments from a 2021 interview where he admitted he didn’t know who Biles was when they met on a dating app. At the time, Owens said, “I didn’t know who she was at the time, but the first thing that I saw was that she just had a bunch of Instagram followers. So in my mind, I’m like, ‘Ok, she’s got to be good.'”

These remarks resurfaced as fans mocked him for now proudly displaying her achievement. One user sarcastically wrote, “but you didn’t know who she was right?” while another quipped, “Do you know who she is now?” Despite the online backlash, Biles and Owens appear to remain united, with their focus firmly on celebrating her monumental achievements in Paris.