This Morning’s Alison Hammond criticised for JoJo Siwa comment

This Morning host Alison Hammond has been criticised for making a “crass” comment to JoJo Siwa about her close friendship with Chris Hughes, after JoJo shut down the rumours about the nature of their relationship.

The pair recently appeared on Celebrity Big Brother. They were seen repeatedly kissing, cuddling in bed and embracing during their time on the reality show, sparking controversy due to their age gap (Hughes is 32 and Siwa is 22), and the fact that Siwa was dating 27-year-old Australian influencer Kath Ebbs at the time, who she has since broken up with.

On Monday’s edition of This Morning, Hammond presented alongside Paddy McGuinness and spoke to Chris who was broadcasting live from Bexhill where he was interviewing 90-year-old Barby Keel, who runs an animal sanctuary.

Before the pair let Chris go off air, they introduced JoJo Siwa, who was live in the studio after her appearance on Lorraine earlier that morning, where she reiterated that Chris is not her boyfriend.

JoJo exclaimed, “Hey Christopher!” To which he responded: “That’s my Jo, I know that voice, that’s a voice that gives you energy in the morning, I tell ya, that’s just what I needed today.”

Paddy McGuinness then boldly asked: “Can I just ask, how do you know JoJo gives you energy in the Morning? What’s going on here? Hello! Hashtag awkward.”

Alison laughed at his probe before directing questions at JoJo.

‘I’m so invested in you and Chris’

She said: “Honestly, I’m so invested in you and Chris. I don’t care what anyone says, I want to know. I’m so invested! I love this little relationship; it’s beautiful, but just for the record, what is your relationship status with Chris right now?”

JoJo Siwa hesitantly responded, “I will say he is up there as one of my favourite people in the entire world,” but Alison interrupted, adding “With benefits.” Friends with benefits refers to friends who aren’t in a committed or monogamous relationship, but who are sexually intimate.

The Dance Moms star ignored the interruption and continued to revel in how happy Chris has made her.

‘Please stop’  

Alison Hammond’s “friends with benefits” line drew criticism on social media, with one person writing: “I love a laugh n all that, but that was a crass comment by Alison re JoJo and Chris’ relationship.” 

Another wrote: “Leave JoJo alone. Alison that was uncalled for #ThisMorning.” 

Someone else wrote: “WHY would you be invested in that JoJo Siwa & Chris sh*t can I ask?” 

Another viewer wrote, “please stop this JoJo & Chris segment,” while another commented: “I find this whole thing with JoJo and Chris nauseating. @ITV and @thismorning just need to drop it. It’s not cute it’s embarrassing.” 

Speculation about their relationship was rife following the singer changing the lyrics to one of her songs to honour Chris Hughes recently. Performing a cover of Kim Carnes’ 1981 hit Bette Davis Eyes in Mexico, JoJo ended the song on a high by changing the lyrics from “She’s got Bette Davis eyes” to “Chris Hughes’ eyes”. 

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