BBC Radio 1 presenter Dean McCullough, 32, has shared his thoughts on the swirling rumours about Celebrity Big Brother’s JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes.
The Irish radio star, known for his regular appearances as a Big Brother panelist and superfan, suggested that the pictures of the pair kissing “could be AI”.
Speaking to the Express, McCullough said: “I was actually looking at a picture of them last night kissing, but people were saying that it was AI.
“And as soon as people started talking about the fact that it could be AI, I switched off.
“Because I thought that I don’t believe what I see online until the two out them come out and say ‘we are in a relationship and this is how we are defining it’.”
He added: “I think that the way that everyone has reacted to Chris and JoJo actually speaks volumes about just society at the minute.
“I think JoJo in particular has opened up a conversation around gender identity, sexuality and the term queer.
“On the show, she spoke to Danny Beard about her pulling away from the feeling of her being a lesbian and trying to figure out what it feels like to be queer.
“And I think that is good, because she’s on her journey, she’s young and it will allow her space to go on this journey similar to what I went on.”
McCullough also reflected on his own experience navigating his identity and sexuality, sharing it took him a while to figure out how he identified and “fit in with the LGBTQ+ spectrum.”
Addressing the speculation surrounding Siwa and Hughes’ relationship, McCullough emphasised that people should let the pair define it for themselves.
MORE LIKE THIS:
JoJo Siwa, 21, and Chris Hughes, 32, spotted KISSING for first time as CBB star’s romance confirmedJoJo Siwa, 22, breaks silence on relationship status with Chris Hughes 32, after pair spotted kissingKath Ebbs, 27, breaks silence after ex JoJo Siwa spotted kissing Chris Hughes as duo confirm romance
“Everyone is going to gossip, and everyone is going to say ‘will they, won’t they’, or whatever, but if they say that they are friends then they’re friends. You’ve got to take it that they are friends,” he said.
“I think people should just be happy for them. You know, she’s on a journey, he’s on a journey and they have an amazing relationship—platonic or otherwise, who knows.
“It will spark conversations about gender identity and sexuality and I think that is very important. That’s what should be focused on rather than if they are going to kiss or not.”
He added that he loved watching the pair on Big Brother, and that he was “really proud” of Siwa.
Siwa and Hughes have fuelled speculation over their relationship status after meeting in the Celebrity Big Brother house, where they quickly formed a close bond.
They’ve since been spotted spending time together again, recently appearing close while sharing a kiss in a pool at a hotel in Mexico.
Siwa and Hughes have previously denied any romantic involvement, maintaining that they are simply close friends.
In a recent interview with Andi Peters on Lorraine after the intimate kiss moment, the 22-year-old singer once again responded to the speculation.
When Peters suggested Hughes was her boyfriend, Siwa laughed awkwardly and replied: “No.”
