Honestly, the internet can be a pretty ruthless place, especially when it comes to "protecting" people who never asked for protection in the first place. If you’ve been anywhere near TikTok or X (formerly Twitter) over the last couple of years, you’ve seen the firestorm. The simone biles husband drama basically became a case study in how a few minutes of podcast audio can turn a professional athlete into Public Enemy No. 1 overnight.
It all started back in December 2023. Jonathan Owens, an NFL safety who was with the Green Bay Packers at the time and now plays for the Chicago Bears, sat down for an episode of The Pivot podcast. He was sitting right there next to his wife, Simone Biles—literally the most decorated gymnast in history. And then he said it. He called himself "the catch."
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The Podcast Clip Heard ‘Round the World
When host Ryan Clark asked Owens how he managed to "pull" someone like Simone, Owens laughed and flipped the script. "I always say that the men are the catch," he said. He went on to describe how he "didn't know who she was" when they first matched on the dating app Raya in 2020.
The backlash was instant. And loud.
People were livid. How could a guy who—let’s be real—isn't exactly a household name outside of hardcore football fans, claim he’s the "prize" when he’s married to a woman with her own signature moves and a literal mountain of Olympic gold? The internet labeled him a "walking red flag." They called him "Mr. Simone Biles" as an insult. Some people were even flooding Simone’s comments telling her to get a divorce.
But here’s the thing: we were all watching a highlight reel, and a pretty edited one at that.
What Actually Happened Behind the Scenes
Simone wasn't just "in the room" during that interview; she was enjoying herself. In her 2024 appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, she finally opened up about how the simone biles husband drama actually felt from the inside.
"I was in the room. I was sitting on the chair, you just couldn't see me on the videos. I was there for the whole entire video," Biles told Alex Cooper. She thought the interview went great. She thought the "catch" comment was just a bit of lighthearted banter between athletes.
Then she checked her phone.
The transition from "we’re having a fun day" to "the entire world thinks my husband is a monster" was jarring. Simone admitted that while she initially found the "divorce him" comments hilarious, the sheer volume of hate eventually broke her. She actually broke down crying one night, asking why people were attacking her family so relentlessly.
Why Owens Claimed He "Didn't Know" Her
One of the biggest sticking points for fans was the "I didn't know who she was" claim. People found old tweets of his mentioning gymnastics and pointed out that she’s one of the most famous humans on earth. It felt like "negging"—that toxic dating tactic where a guy tries to lower a woman's self-esteem to make himself feel more powerful.
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Owens' explanation was a bit more mundane. In 2016, when Simone was taking over the Rio Olympics, he was in the middle of a grueling college football training camp. No TV, no social media, just 24/7 football. When they matched on Raya in 2020, he saw she had a lot of followers and realized she was "good" at what she did, but he didn't have the "GOAT" context yet.
From Simone’s perspective, this was actually a plus. She liked that he didn't treat her like a celebrity. He just liked Simone, the girl who messaged him first.
The Mental Toll of a Viral Scandal
We often forget that these people are human. Simone has been incredibly vocal about her mental health—from the "twisties" in Tokyo to her triumphant comeback in Paris. But she’s said that the simone biles husband drama was a different kind of weight.
In her Netflix docuseries, Simone Biles Rising, she addressed the controversy again. She pointed out a pretty uncomfortable truth: people were equating their love to her trophy room.
"People equate our love to the amount of trophies and medals and accolades that I have, and that's not how you measure love," she said. It’s a nuanced point. Just because she’s more successful in her field doesn't mean the power dynamic in their home is lopsided. Jonathan is the guy who opens her doors, who supported her through her darkest athletic moments, and who—according to her—"praises the ground I walk on."
Why the Drama Still Lingers
Even during the 2024 Paris Olympics, the ghost of the podcast interview followed them. When Owens posted a photo of himself wearing one of Simone’s gold medals, the "take it off" comments started immediately.
Simone had to step in again. She explained that she wanted her family to wear the medals and take photos. She was proud to share her success with the people who helped her get there.
The reality is that Jonathan Owens has become a lightning rod for people’s frustrations with gender roles and "alpha" posturing. Because he’s a professional athlete, people expect him to have a certain ego, and they used his words to confirm their worst suspicions. But if you watch the full, unedited clips, it looks less like a guy trying to humble his wife and more like two people who joke around with each other.
A Timeline of the Major Beats
- August 2020: The couple meets on Raya and starts dating during the pandemic.
- April 2023: They get married in a courthouse ceremony followed by a big wedding in Mexico.
- December 2023: The Pivot podcast interview airs, sparking the initial firestorm.
- April 2024: Simone defends Jonathan on Call Her Daddy, revealing she cried over the comments.
- July/August 2024: Jonathan gets special permission from the Bears to leave training camp to support Simone in Paris.
- October 2024: The second half of Simone Biles Rising drops on Netflix, giving the final word on the "catch" comments.
Actionable Insights: What We Can Learn
The simone biles husband drama isn't just about a famous couple; it’s about how we consume media.
If you're ever tempted to jump into a viral pile-on, keep these things in mind:
- Context is king. Short clips are designed to go viral, not to tell the truth. If a quote sounds "too bad to be true," it usually is.
- Respect the partner's agency. Simone Biles is one of the toughest, most disciplined people on the planet. Assuming she’s being "tricked" or "belittled" by her husband actually does her a disservice. She’s more than capable of choosing a partner who treats her right.
- Check the source. Most of the "outrage" was fueled by people who had never watched the full hour-long interview.
The next time a celebrity relationship goes viral for the wrong reasons, take a breath. Sometimes, a "red flag" is just a poorly timed joke between two people who actually really like each other. Simone and Jonathan seem "locked in," as they say, regardless of what the comment section thinks.
To keep up with the real story, your best bet is to follow the athletes directly on Instagram or watch long-form interviews like the Call Her Daddy episode, rather than relying on 15-second TikTok edits that are looking for clicks.