Simone Biles’ husband Jonathan Owens is 'unbothered' amid backlash for saying he’s the catch in the relationship

For all intents and purposes, the love story of Olympic champion Simone Biles and NFL player Jonathan Owens seems to be #couplesgoals. It all started in 2020 when they matched on celebrity-fave online dating app Raya, with the Gold-medal gymnast admitting to making the first move. From the beginning, Jonathan has stated he had no idea she was a sports legend at the time. 

 "I just hadn't heard of her, and when I told her that, that's one of the things she liked," he told Texas Monthly. Nevertheless, they got engaged in 2022 and married in 2023, not once, but twice: first at a courthouse in Texas, then they exchanged vows in Mexico, hosting a big shebang.

#SimoneBiles husband says he didn’t know who she was when they met & says he’s the catch. pic.twitter.com/gnbUFerFot

— The Gworls Are Fighting (@baddietvv) December 21, 2023

However, it’s Jonathan’s insistence that she wasn’t on his radar that has been rubbing fans the wrong way lately. During a recent interview on 'The Pivot' podcast, he went into detail about how he didn’t think she was famous, and even plainly stated that he was “the catch” in the relationship. 

"I always say that the men are the catch," he said, adding that it took a lot for him to settle down this early in his life.

That has left a bad taste in many fans mouths, with some even going so far to say that he is using an old sexist tactic of trying to “humble” his more-famous wife.

This teaches me (even at my age) when you are a GREAT woman, men no matter what the status is will always try their hardest to humble you. Give a man a mic and watch him embarrass you!!

— Nieceydash (@Nieceydashz87) December 22, 2023

No one would have batted an eye if he just said he didn’t follow gymnastics. It was him publicly demeaning her accomplishments. He just kept doubling down that he was the catch and she was after him. Okay Simone Biles husband. We see you.

— Desert Rose (@SewCrafty_inAZ) December 22, 2023

This has prompted Jonathan to post a cryptic response to the backlash on his Instagram. Posting a loved-up pic of the pair on their wedding day, he wrote in the caption, seemingly addressing the backlash: “Unbothered 😂❤️ Just know we locked in over here 🤞🏽”

Still, fans are trying to get messages to Simone to make sure she’s okay.

I hope she has a prenup….

— ♉︎ QUEEN (@venusianqueenn) December 22, 2023

Men who say they’re the catch only say that when they have money. The MONEY makes them “the catch” in their eyes. They couldn’t pull a beautiful woman without it.

But that’s none of my business. pic.twitter.com/cCwh6n5seJ

— Ayiro (pronounced arrow) ➡️ (@Ayiro) December 22, 2023

The only public comment during this time from Simone has been in the comments section of her husband’s “Unbothered” IG post, commenting, “"🤞🏾💋 for life.”

Previously, she gushed about their “seamless” relationship.

"Our personalities match right up," she told TODAY. "He's just great. He's an athlete, too, so we really understand each other, and I think that's why our relationship has been seamless." 

I got so much respect for gymnast man, true athletes no doubt 👏🏽

— Jonathan Owens (@jjowens_3) June 7, 2021

And despite Jonathan’s “catch” comments, he has also publicly stated how much respect he has for Simone’s sport and showed he can be her biggest cheerleader. "I got so much respect for gymnast[s] man, true athletes no doubt," he posted to X in 2021.