JoJo Siwa defends herself against Chris Hughes ‘cheating’ discourse: ‘I have not and would not’

Jojo Siwa has refuted accusations that she “emotionally cheated” on her former partner Kath Ebbs while appearing on Celebrity Big Brother (CBB).

During her time on the ITV show, the “Karma” singer formed a strong bond with former Love Island contestant Chris Hughes, spending most of their stint together and cuddling in bed. Since leaving the house last week, the pair have referred to the relationship as a “soulmate friendship”.

Jojo Siwa also realised while staying in the CBB house that she is queer, having previously identified as a lesbian.

While on the reality show, the other CBB housemates including Drag Race UK star Danny Beard suggested that the pair appeared to the outside world that they were getting together. For many viewers watching the show, that’s exactly how it seemed, with some suggesting Siwa was “emotionally cheating” on Ebbs, who she was in a relationship with on the outside.

In a TikTok posted over the weekend, Ebbs announced that she and Siwa had split up, initiated by Siwa at the CBB wrap party.

“It took that person less than an hour to follow through,” Ebbs said. “In terms of Mr. Christopher, I don’t know. I have opinions, [but] I’m not gonna say them now. In terms of their relationship, that’s their journey, enjoy.”

Ebbs added that some viewers felt Siwa had been “emotional cheating” and there had been an “over-crossing of boundaries” during the show.

Now, the former Dance Moms star has further addressed the split, and denied any accusation that she “cheated” on Ebbs with Hughes.

“There’s so many reasons why my breakup happened. Christopher is not one of them,” Siwa told Nick Viall on his podcast The Viall Files.

“I actually told this to Kath, like, ‘Maybe it would be easier if he was!’ But he is not one of them, so if you’re going to share the story, share the story.

“I understand Chris and I are very tight,” she added. “Don’t paint it out to look like I cheated on you with him because I did not… I would not, and I have not.”

The 21-year-old music star said that she first felt uneasy in her relationship with Ebbs post entering the CBB house, after seeing a photo of herself with her family at Disney World and recalling feeling unhappy that day.

“It just opened a can of worms that… really did me in,” she continued. “The second that I had a time to think… My brain just started to run with so many things that I have been OK with, that I have tolerated, that nobody should. It put a lot of things into perspective for me.”

After CBB ended, Siwa was informed that Ebbs didn’t want to come to the wrap party. Siwa went to the party regardless, and suggested that she and Ebbs delay their much-needed conversation until the following day.

“That upset them, rightfully so. They wanted to be with me. But I knew I wasn’t in a place for them,” Siwa explained. Ebbs then did ultimately decided to head to the party.

“All of a sudden we’re at the wrap party for Big Brother. I’m getting cussed out,” Siwa shared.

“I understand where they’re angry and where they’re coming at me, but I also keep reiterating like, ‘I’m not in a place to talk.’… Anyway, by the 16th time somebody asks you, ‘Are you happy? Do you want to end things?’ You’re going to just spew your guts and I was honest and I said, ‘If you ask me tomorrow, I don’t know my answer. if you ask me right now, my answer is yes.’ And then that obviously was taken as yes, and it was a yes.”

Siwa revealed that Ebbs had asked her not to speak out about their relationship ending, despite Ebbs taking to TikTok to share their own side of the story.

“You don’t get to have it both ways,” Siwa said. “But I understand wanting to share your truth, and that is the exact thing I told my ex. I said, ‘Look, if you would like to share what happened, if you would like to share how it happened, that’s totally fine. It’s your story. It’s your life. Please do not lead to the false narrative that’s already out there.’’

In one of her first appearances post CBB, Siwa explained that it had not been her “plan” to split with Ebbs, and reiterated that her relationship with Hughes is purely plutonic.

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