Football star Jonathan Owens has caused controversy with a photo of his wife, gymnastics champion Simone Biles, holding the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal.

The controversial photo was posted by Owens on Instagram on July 30. In the photo, the American football star is wearing a T-shirt with Simone Biles’s image and name printed on it, and has the Olympic gold medal that his wife and the US gymnastics team just won in the women’s all-around team event. Jonathan Owens hugs and kisses his wife as the two party in Paris to celebrate her success. In both photos, he shows off his wife’s gold medal.

Jonathan Owens was affectionate with his wife while showing off the gold medal she won at Paris 2024. Photo: Instagram Jonathan Owens

“Seeing history every time you step on the stage. Congratulations baby on becoming the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history. Wow, 8 medals. So grateful I’m here to witness this,” the American football star wrote.

Owens’ congratulatory photo of his wife sparked controversy. Many criticized him and questioned why he wore his wife’s gold medal as if it were his own. “You’re holding Simone’s gold medal, not yours,” one fan wrote. Another commented, “Why is he holding it like he won it?” Some asked Owens to return the medal to Biles.

But many people had different opinions when congratulating the American gymnastics superstar and admiring her husband flying to Paris to cheer on his wife even though he was preparing for the new season with the Chicago Bears team.

“Congratulations. So happy you were able to negotiate with Chicago and come to Paris to support your wife. I cried with emotion. So excited for Simone and Team USA. Love you both,” one account expressed. Another commented: “You two are the sweetest people. I love your love. It’s so beautiful to see. Send her a big hug from all of us in the US. We are so proud of her.” Another wrote: “I’m so happy you were able to see your wife make Olympic history.”

The American sports stars married last year after three years of dating. Photo: Simone Biles Instagram

Representatives of Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles have not responded to the noise. Jonathan Owens was born in 1995, is an American football star, and is not as famous as his wife.

The American stars met through the dating app Raya in 2020, spending time getting to know each other when Covid-19 broke out. The couple married in May last year. Jonathan Owens was criticized when he confessed that he did not know Simone Biles’s reputation when they first met, while she was one of the most prominent faces in American sports at that time. The gymnastics superstar once spoke up to defend her husband, saying that his comments about him hurt her. Simone Biles praised Owens as a sweet and kind person.

Simone Biles, born in 1997, is considered one of the most successful names in American and world gymnastics. At Paris 2024, in addition to the gold medal in the women’s team all-around event won on July 30, she also won the gold medal in the women’s individual all-around event on August 1. In total, Simone Biles has won 6 gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals in her Olympic career. At Tokyo 2020, the American athlete made a splash when she bravely withdrew from a number of individual competitions to protect her mental health.