Celebrity Big Brother’s Daley Thompson, 66, ruffles feathers after he calls Chris Hughes, 32, and JoJo Siwa’s friendship ‘performative’

Celebrity Big Brother‘s Daley Thompson ruffled some feathers after he dubbed Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa‘s friendship as ‘performative’. 

During Friday night’s episode, the gold medalist Olympic, 66, became the third housemate to be evicted from the house.

In Sunday’s upcoming episode, TOWIE‘s Ella Rae Wise, 24, claimed Daley warned her people ‘pairing up for air time’ – a comment believed to be directed at Chris, 32, and JoJo, 21.

Ella then confided in Donna Preston, 38, and Danny Beard, 32, about her cryptic conversation with Daley.

She said: ‘Daley just basically said that you’ve got to be careful. There are two reality stars in here that do reality every single day. 

‘He said they know what they’re doing, if they pair up, they’re going to take a lot of air time from people. And it’s going to be very fixated on them both. And just to be mindful.’

Shocked by the comment, Danny said: ‘That was a Daley bomb’ prompting Donna to add: ‘I just think that, at the end of the day, it’s a game.’

Ella replied: ‘I just felt, and this is my personal opinion, there are social climbers in this industry, and I think he would benefit a hell of a lot off her. ‘

Later in the episode, Daley’s suspicions resurfaced, with Danny revealing what was said to the rest of the gathered housemates.

Danny confessed: ‘Can I be real about it? I’m not going to talk bad, but before Daley went, Daley was like ”you have to watch out for some people in here – they’re playing a game”.’

Chris’s attention was sparked as he questioned: ‘What, Daley said that?’

Sensing the tension, Ella added: ‘It’s a gameshow. People are going to play a game. People are going to become friends with people because it benefits them. 

‘It’s fair to say that. And that’s what Daley said.’

But Chris insisted his friendship with JoJo is genuine as he hit back with: ‘Does Daley think I’ve become friends with certain people in here to benefit?

‘Daley would be referring to mine and JoJo’s friendship. I’m fine with that. I know that mine and JoJo’s friendship is genuine. 

‘I’m fine with other people looking at it from that perspective. When you’ve been somewhere for two weeks, naturally you’re going to gravitate towards people. That’s just life.’

To which Ella replied: ‘What we’ve got to take into consideration is that there’s people in here that have caring sides, and there’s people in here who wouldn’t want you to be used for your platform. 

‘That’s why I feel it struck a chord in Daley because he felt for you – he doesn’t want anyone to use you as a stepping stone.’

Ella was left devastated when Daley became the third housemate to be evicted, after he received four nominations from Angellica Bell, Chris, Donna and Patsy Palmer.

Straight after his exit, he made a swipe at housemates who were playing games to win while talking to hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best on Late and Live. 

He said: ‘There are reality stars, they are performative and know what they’re doing.’

Chris and JoJo’s unpredictable friendship has been at the centre of attention in recent days as they have raised eyebrows by cuddling in bed.

Saturday’s live stream saw the pair stripping down to their bathing suits for a dip in the hot tub during Saturday’s livestream.

The former Love Island star and the dancer, who is dating Kath Ebbs outside the house, shared another close moment as they opted to take a soak in the garden. 

During their time in the tub, the pair appeared to get even closer as JoJo touched Chris’s thigh before he later went on to give her a foot rub. 

Viewers were left in frenzy over the pair’s ‘chemistry’ as they took to social media to comment on the antics.

Comments included: ‘Chris and JoJo’s chemistry in the hot tub is on fire.’

‘Everyone’s cleared out of the hot tub, and now Chris is giving JoJo a foot massage’.; ‘It’s just Chris and JoJo in the hot tub now, he’s giving her a leg massage…’; ‘Ouhhh they went there omggg,’    

Other scenes in the show over the last week have also baffled fans as Chris has previously tried to kiss JoJo and offered to be the father of her children.

The former TV star also made the shocking comment when housemates dressed up as cats for a task, as he told JoJo he has ‘good swimmers’.

Chris has continued to make baffling comments to the performer as he also previously referred to her as his girlfriend in the house.

JoJo revealed to her fellow housemate, Donna, that she wanted to have children to ‘take on holiday’.

Donna said: ‘You have to take these holidays, take these dreams, do what you want to do as well.’

To which JoJo replied: ‘I wanna have babies and take them on holiday.’

Donna cheekily referred to Chris to help her out and as she quipped: ‘There you go. Pop a couple out, babe. Chris is available.’

Looking intrigued, Chris asked: ‘For what?’

JoJo explained ‘to have babies’, which he responded: ‘We’d have babies together. [I’d be just] the dad. I have good swimmers. I had mine checked.’

Donna described the conversation as ‘a moment’ as Patsy said: ‘You’d have beautiful babies.’

To which Chris agreed: ‘They’d have great eyes.’

JoJo then added that she could ‘show the kids’ the footage one day, and confessed that she would tell them: ‘Here’s how we decided who the father was.’

Chris seemed to take this in his stride and said it would be a ‘good idea’.

But viewers were left uneasy over the conversation as they flocked to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their reactions.

One penned: ‘i’ve grown to love jojo and her friendship with chris but some of the things that’s happened between them is not normal in a friendship imo’

‘Chris and Jojo is getting weird….. Jojo needs to save herself and move away from him he’s giving me weird energy (personal opinion) #CBB #CBBUK something is off….’

‘Chris and Jojo will be babies and it’s going to be uncomfortable isn’t it #CBBUK #CBBLL’

‘Chris would very much like to have babies with JoJo #CBBUK’

‘jojo said she wants babies and someone said chris is available and chris said like oh id have ur babies and said she has great eyes HELP’

‘The fact chris is alright with giving jojo some babies just shows where his mindset at #cab #cbbuk’

On Thursday, fans were left disgusted over ‘creepy’ comments Chris made towards JoJo after he remarked that he was ‘turned on’ by her as the housemates played a memory game.

JoJo and Chris’ close bond has become the talk of the series after becoming inseparable during their time in the Celebrity Big Brother house. 

However, their ever-growing closeness has led to question marks over her relationship with her partner Kath Ebbs, who she has been dating since last year.

Videos of Chris and JoJo, who came out as pansexual in 2021 but recently described herself as gay in an interview, will do nothing to quieten talk about their intimate relationship, with viewers hooked over their close-knit bond.

Clips that weren’t aired during the main show, saw Chris and JoJo in bed together with the reality star lying on her chest before they pulled the duvet over their heads. 

Another surprising video showed them dancing together in the garden, with Chris momentarily distracted by ‘how good’ JoJo looked.

While the former Dance Moms star was trying to teach Chris a routine, he lost himself and was caught staring at his co-star JoJo in an intense moment.

As she attempted to continue the routine, Chris said: ‘God you look great today. I think that’s my favourite colour on you.’

JoJo replied saying thank you and Chris added: ‘It suits you.’ 

JoJo’s partner Kath – who is non-binary and uses she/they pronouns – has been publicly supporting her during her time on the show, but has gone quiet in recent days.

The Australian content creator, 27, spoke out in defence of the American singer after she suffered a homophobic attack from axed housemate Mickey Rourke.

Using her TikTok platform to weigh in on the controversy, Kath said that Mickey’s behaviour was ‘beyond disgusting’ and described JoJo as ‘the love of her life’.

However, Kath has not posted on her social media platforms for the past five days, notably in which time JoJo and Chris’ relationship has blossomed.

Kath has also been forced to now turn off the comments on her page after she was trolled by viewers over JoJo and Chris’ bond.

Chris is currently single and has been single for the past three years. His last known relationship was with professional golfer Annabel Dimmock.

Prior to this, Chris was last publicly in a relationship with former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson – who he dated for around a year between 2019 and 2020.

He dated Jesy after his break-up from Love Island co-star Olivia Attwood, who he met on the show and dated for seven months.

Meanwhile, JoJo has had several short-term relationships in recent years.

The Nickelodeon star previously dated best friend Kylie Prew for several months in 2021.

The pair broke things off, before getting back together briefly, and then breaking up again.

JoJo then began dating TikToker Avery Cyrus in September 2022 and confirmed the romance after months of fan speculation.

However, she later admitted she cheated on Avery with her ex Kylie, with Avery confirming JoJo broke up with her via voice memo after reconciling on TikTok.