Simone Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, has sparked controversy after proudly posting a picture of his wife’s historic Olympic gold medal on social media.
At several games last year, Simone Biles gave Green Bay Packers fans an up-close look at Olympic royalty as she supported her husband, Jonathan Owens. She always wore Owens’ jersey and dressed in green and gold.
To cheer his wife on, Owens paid the kindness forward by wearing a graphic T-shirt with a Biles theme during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
On July 30, the 29-year-old NFL player posted a photo of himself and his spouse on Instagram following the US women’s gymnastics team’s gold medal victory at the Olympics. After winning the team’s all-around competition, Biles won her fifth gold medal at the Olympics.
Owens wore a white shirt with pictures of his wife and her last name on it, with his arm around her in his Instagram pictures. Additionally, he was holding up the gold medal that his wife had just won in Paris with his hand around his neck.
“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,” he captioned the photos.
Fans have since criticized Owens and questioned why he ever took a picture of himself holding his partner’s Olympic medal once the photos hit the internet.
“Simone Biles’ husband is wearing the Olympic gold medal as if he won. It is sending me so bad,” a user wrote on X.
Another added, “If Simone Biles’ husband gets a ring and she gets a gold medal in the same year, that would be kinda wild.”
Some of Owens’s supporters stood up for him despite the criticism, saying his actions were motivated by pride and love for his wife.
As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how the couple will address the public outcry – or not.
