AS the crowd went wild for American pop star JoJo Siwa at her gig in London this week, she told them she had “never felt so special and so loved”.
The reason was gazing adoringly at her from the audience: Love Island’s Chris Hughes.
JoJo went on to change the lyrics of Bette Davis Eyes to “Chris Hughes’ eyes” as he looked on, giddy and red-faced at a music venue in Shoreditch.
Chris could not attend the second of her two-night run there — but JoJo didn’t miss her moment to shout out to him, singing to his orange beanie which she had placed in the crowd.
However, as the dust settles on this Chris and JoJo loveathon — which began after they met on Celebrity Big Brother last month — the question remains . . .
Are Chris and JoJo really love’s young dream? Or, as the doubters claim, are they hamming it up for both their careers?
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, body-language expert Judi James says the overblown antics of the very handsy pair don’t necessarily read as romantic — because they are so over the top.
She says: “Inside the Celebrity Big Brother house, the pair threw themselves into a very impulsive and unfiltered display that suggested it was based on a form of almost playful playground friendship.”
Public frenzy
Chris and JoJo have always suggested — with words, not actions — they are just friends.
But they have muddied the waters by snuggling up together in bed, and posting intimate photos that stoke public frenzy.
So, what’s the motive?
JoJo is a former child star, who is loved by millions of pre-teens across the globe and has wisdom and experience beyond her 22 years.
Chris is a reality star, who had sex on TV in 2017’s Love Island, and now at 32, has lost none of that boyish, dewy-eyed charm that first melted viewers’ hearts eight years ago.
They met on Celebrity Big Brother on April 7 — and in the three weeks that followed, engaged in public displays of affection, with JoJo ultimately dumping her partner soon after leaving the house.
And yet, they have refused to confirm whether or not they are dating — while doing everything possible to make us believe they are.
Chris made the 12-hour flight from the UK to Mexico to support JoJo as she performed to fans in Mexico City 12 days ago — waiting backstage for her to finish.
JoJo’s brand is all about positivity and love. She seems to have brought that intensity to this relationship with Chris.
Body language expert Judi James
He later posted cosy snaps of them together online.
The two were then spotted kissing while straddling a lilo at an adults-only hotel during a loved-up getaway there.
On Sunday, they had an emotional reunion at Heathrow airport as JoJo flew in from Los Angeles — Chris greeting her with a large bouquet of red roses.
She has since been calling him out on stage and sharing photos of them embracing.
Candid snaps show them spooning in bed — prompting thousands of fans to flock to Instagram and credit the couple for proving real love does indeed exist.
Yet on Monday, while appearing on ITV chat show Lorraine to promote her new music video, Bulletproof, and her London gigs, JoJo denied Chris was her boyfriend.
Trying to ascertain whether or not the pair were officially an item, host Andi Peters asked: “Your boyfriend . . . ?”
JoJo immediately said: “No,” adding with a laugh: “It’s so funny to me how straight up people get nowadays.”
This is not the first time Chris has grown close to a music star. In January 2019 he started dating Jesy Nelson, who was then part of the UK’s biggest girl band, Little Mix.
During their 16-month relationship, he joined her on the band’s worldwide LM5 tour, and even appeared in the music video for their song Wasabi — appearing as the loyal boyfriend, hanging out backstage.
Subtle digs
Pictures of the pair from that time show him dutifully tailing her at red carpet events.
The would-be Romeo has been relatively coy about his love life since splitting with Jesy — but he did go public with his ex-girlfriend, pro-golfer Annabel Dimmock, in 2021.
Once again, Chris found himself in the shadow of his successful other half, who competed in events including the Ladies European Tour and the 2019 Evian Championship.
And he dutifully assumed the role of lapdog — or golf caddy — as he accompanied her to tournaments.
Despite the pair moving in together and getting matching tattoos, the relationship ended after a year.
Chris had sprung to fame on the third series of Love Island, falling for ITV darling Olivia Attwood.
The duo had a tempestuous relationship, featuring explosive tiffs about nothing, followed by passionate make-up sessions.
After leaving the villa, they stayed together and even appeared in their own three-part spin-off, Crackin’ On.
But the couple broke up eight months into their relationship.
Since then, Olivia has been relatively tight-lipped about her ex, but she has dropped subtle digs over the years — intimating Chris wants clout over genuine connection.
When asked on TikTok what she thinks of Chris’ seemingly PR- fuelled relationship with JoJo, Olivia responded this week: “She’s really famous.”
The message was clear.
Having found fame aged around 11 on US reality TV series Dance Moms — which followed kids’ showbiz training — JoJo has a solid fanbase in America, mostly under the age of 14.
But in 2021, she shook her squeaky clean image, coming out as queer.
On TikTok, she wrote: “A man was my first date and he wanted to have sex with me and I did not want to — never wanted to, grossed out by the thought of it.
“Immediately knew men are not my thing. Women are my thing.”
However, within hours of leaving the CBB house, JoJo broke up with her non-binary lover, Kath Ebbs, 27.
Many thought the split was down to Chris, but JoJo later posted: “There’s so many reasons why my break-up happened. Christopher is not one of them. I actually told this to Kath, like, ‘Maybe it would be easier if he was!’”
Over the past year, JoJo has been pulling out all the stops to cement herself as a mature, credible artist.
Going on Celebrity Big Brother was her chance to broaden her fame — but finding herself in this season’s biggest love story was something she could not have planned for.
Despite losing out to Coronation Street actor Jack P Shepherd in the final, JoJo’s previously minimal UK fanbase has grown — with her two concerts at Colours Hoxton in East London this week selling out.
Relishing attention
JoJo and Chris’s overblown hand- holding, neck nuzzling and mutual worship, while refusing to define themselves or their situationship, might have something to do with her rise.
Whether a conscious PR move or not, it certainly seems like JoJo is relishing the attention garnered by her “are they/aren’t they” romance.
As Judi tells us, the proof is in the performative petting.
Judi explains: “Anyone who watched JoJo grow up on Dance Moms will know her kilowatt smile and her ‘bubbly’ behaviour have been ingrained since childhood.
“Her brand is all about positivity and love. She seems to have brought that intensity to this relationship with Chris, so she can spin this as a great romance to keep the world buzzing.”
Judi says it’s mostly JoJo who is “leaning into” their PDAs.
Despite this, it is Chris who has the sceptics stewing.
Although he won the public’s love in 2017, he has never quite managed to reach the success of his first foray in TV.
He has established himself as a racing presenter, yet his popularity is still largely limited to Love Island fans.
Appearing on Celebrity Big Brother helped to revive his fame — but banding up with JoJo means his name is now known in the US, which won’t hurt any aspirations of working stateside.
As for what the future holds, the couple might well maintain this showmance for a while.
It is certainly serving them both well for now.
But in the event that it flops, they will always have these very strange months that had many people transfixed.
And Chris has another “professional boyfriend” notch to add to the belt.
JoJo Siwa and Kath Ebbs' relationship
We look back at JoJo Siwa's romance with Kath Ebbs:
JoJo Siwa went public with hers and Kath Ebbs’ relationship in January 2025.
The Dance Moms star had been introduced to 27-year-old Australian content creator Kath by a mutual friend called G-Flip six months earlier.
JoJo had split with her girlfriend Dakayla Wilson in November 2024 and it is believed she hooked up romantically with Kath soon after.
Speaking in March at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, JoJo said of her relationship: “I am so happy. I am in a very mature relationship, and it’s beautiful. It’s taught me so much about life.
“It’s taught me so much about love and respect, and it’s a beautiful thing.
“It’s different in more ways than I can count. I wouldn’t even know what to say the biggest is ‘cause just everything is so different and special.”
Kath even claimed they had talked about marriage together.
However, JoJo’s romance with Kath abruptly hit the skids on April 25, 2025, at the Celebrity Big Brother wrap party.
JoJo dumped Kath at the bash after spending 19 days in the CBB house – where she had grown close to Love Island star Chris Hughes.
