The Celebrity Big Brother house is no stranger to drama, but a ascended to new heights on April 13, 2025, when fans noticed a brewing tension between Ella Rae Wise, 24, and Chris Hughes, 32, sparked by his close friendship with JoJo Siwa, 21. Viewers initially speculated Ella’s frustration stemmed from romantic jealousy, expecting a showmance with the Love Island star that never materialized. However, fans on X and recent reports from The Mirror and Daily Mail suggest a different motive: Ella’s anger isn’t about attraction but a strategic game move gone wrong. She reportedly believed aligning with Chris would boost her visibility and chances in the house, only to feel sidelined when he bonded with JoJo instead, bruising her ego and game plan. This article explores the fan theories, Ella’s actions, and the house dynamics post-Mickey Rourke’s exit, unpacking why Ella’s fury is about control, not romance.

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Celebrity Big Brother fans are all saying the same thing about why Ella Rae Wise (pictured) appears so furious with housemate Chris Hughes

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Viewers predicted a romance between Ella, 24, and Chris (pictured) was certain to blossom in the house – until he unexpectedly started lavishing all his attention on JoJo Siwa

The Spark: Ella vs. Chris and JoJo

During the April 13 episode, aired at 9 PM on ITV1, fans picked up on Ella’s growing irritation with Chris, culminating in her nominating him for eviction. In the Diary Room, she said, “My first nomination is Chris. I don’t know 100% if he’s being his genuine self. … The only time we speak is if we ask each other if we’re okay. … I feel like he’s keeping himself to one person only, and that’s obviously JoJo. He’s playing a massive game.” Her sharp tone and pointed reasoning—calling Chris “not genuine” and overly focused on JoJo—fueled speculation. Earlier, Ella vented to Angellica Bell and Danny Beard, calling JoJo “not my cup of tea” and “too loud,” hinting at a deeper grudge. She also told Trisha Goddard that JoJo “probably doesn’t do her own shopping at home,” implying inauthenticity.

Meanwhile, Chris and JoJo’s friendship was front and center. Scenes showed them cuddling in bed, with Chris stroking JoJo’s back and joking he “missed” her after sleeping apart. JoJo, openly lesbian and in a relationship with nonbinary partner Kath Ebbs, treated it as platonic fun, writing secret messages on Chris’ hand and giggling during late-night chats. Their bond, forged after Chris defended JoJo against Mickey Rourke’s homophobic remarks, contrasted with Ella’s chilly interactions with both. Fans on X initially theorized Ella fancied Chris, with posts like, “Ella’s bitter because Chris doesn’t fancy her,” but a new narrative emerged: her frustration was about losing influence, not love.

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During Sunday night’s episode, fans all picked up on Chris and JoJo’s very cosy friendship

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The dancer, 21, who is pansexual, was seen cuddling in bed with Love Island star Chris, 32, who is straight, in cosy scenes

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The pair both smiled as they lay in bed together before JoJo slinked back to her own, and in the morning Chris admitted he ‘missed’ her while he was asleep

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And tension has become increasingly clear between Chris and Ella, whom has even nominated him for eviction

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Fans have suspected Ella’s furious persona towards Chris is because ‘he doesn’t fancy her’

Fan Theories: A Game, Not a Crush

By April 14, fans on X rallied around a different explanation, arguing Ella’s anger stemmed from a miscalculated strategy. Posts like, “Ella 100% came in thinking she’d get with Chris to get far in the game, and now she’s salty JoJo stole her spotlight,” captured the sentiment. Another user wrote, “Ella wanted a showmance for clout, not feelings. Chris picking JoJo messed up her plan, and she’s lashing out.” A third added, “It’s not attraction—Ella’s ego is bruised because Chris isn’t orbiting her like she expected.” These align with The Mirror’s April 14 report, which noted fans “rumbled” Ella’s feud with JoJo as less about romance and more about “wanting to spend more time with Chris” for strategic gain.

Ella’s behavior supports this. Before entering, she told Daily Mail she was “a terrible flirt” and hinted at openness to a house romance, saying, “I could flirt with a loaf of bread!” Producers seemed to nudge this narrative, cutting to Chris’ smile during her entrance VT on April 7. Yet, when Chris gravitated toward JoJo—bonding over playful moments like a dance routine caught on live stream, per The Irish Sun—Ella’s demeanor shifted. She told JoJo and Angellica Bell about her recent split with TOWIE’s Dan Edgar, fishing for sympathy, but grew curt when JoJo didn’t engage. By April 13, Ella’s nomination of Chris and digs at JoJo’s energy suggested a pivot to undermine their alliance, not win Chris’ affection.

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Chris is set for a hard time on the upcoming episode as he is nominated for eviction by Ella and breaks a strict rule in scenes that will air on Monday’s show

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Elsewhere in the episode, Chris was punished by Big Brother after breaking one strict rule as he spoke to Donna Preston about the nominations

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Speaking in the garden, the presenter said: ‘I’d say I know who Trisha Goddard and Patsy Palmer are going to vote for,’

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Chris replied: ‘We can’t but they’ll probably vote for each other. That’s fair.’ Donna told the reality star again: ‘I don’t think we’re allowed this conversation Chris’

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Big Brother later put Chris in the Celebrity Wheelie Bin of Shame and forced him to write a rap apology

House Dynamics Post-Rourke

Mickey Rourke’s exit on April 12, after clashes with Chris and inappropriate comments to Ella, set the stage for this drama. His removal—for swearing at Chris during a pirate task and making Ella feel “like a piece of meat” with sexual remarks—left the house raw. Ella, already shaken by Rourke, may have seen Chris’ support for JoJo (not her) as a betrayal, especially after he comforted JoJo during Rourke’s homophobic tirade. Daily Mail reported Ella broke down post-Rourke, telling the Diary Room, “I’m a young girl, not a piece of meat,” yet she didn’t lean on Chris for support, instead icing him out.

This reshuffled alliances. JoJo, tasked with packing Rourke’s bags, stayed composed, earning fan praise as “the people’s princess” on X. Chris, meanwhile, faced Ella’s nomination and a rule-break punishment—sent to the “Wheelie Bin of Shame” for discussing nominations with Donna Preston—making him a target. The Mirror noted JoJo’s counter-nomination of Ella for “catty” gossip about their nighttime chats, signaling a direct feud. Posts on X speculated, “Ella thought she’d ride Chris’ coattails, but JoJo’s stealing the show, so Ella’s trying to tear them down.”

Why Not Attraction?

Several clues debunk the romance angle. First, Ella’s own words frame her issue as strategic, not romantic. Her nomination speech focused on Chris’ “game-playing” and lack of connection with others, not personal rejection. In a hot tub clip aired on Late and Live, she told host Will Best, “I don’t care at all, I don’t fancy him, so I ain’t bothered,” directly addressing speculation, per The Mirror. Second, her best friend Freddie Bentley told Daily Mail on April 12 that Ella saw Chris as “a laugh and a giggle” but predicted no romance, only friendship, suggesting Ella’s pre-show mindset was tactical.

Third, Ella’s behavior aligns with ego-driven gameplay. Daily Mail’s April 14 report quoted fans saying Ella’s “jealousy” was about Chris and JoJo “separating themselves,” not love. Her gossip—telling Angellica, “There’s no off switch” about JoJo—aimed to sway housemates like Trisha and Danny against the pair, a move fans on X called “toxic.” Unlike a scorned crush, Ella didn’t seek Chris’ attention; she sought to diminish his and JoJo’s standing, as seen when she questioned JoJo’s authenticity to others but avoided direct confrontation.

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Some fans felt that the cosiness between the pair was inappropriate given JoJo’s relationship status, but others suggested that it is Chris who may want to cross what is a strictly platonic boundary

The display ‘confused’ fans, who wrote: ‘My reaction every time jojo and chris start acting a little too close’

Broader Context

Ella’s strategy reflects Big Brother’s cutthroat nature. A 2024 Ofcom report noted reality shows thrive on manufactured tension, and producers’ early focus on Ella-Chris chemistry—panning to his grin during her VT—set her up for a narrative she couldn’t pivot from when Chris chose JoJo. Variety’s 2023 analysis found 60% of viewers suspect edited drama, and fans on X agreed, posting, “ITV wanted an Ella-Chris love story, but Chris and JoJo’s bromance derailed it, so Ella’s the villain now.” Viewership hit 1.74 million for Rourke’s exit, per Radio Times, showing drama pays, even if it costs housemates’ egos.

Ella’s misstep also ties to her TOWIE roots, where visibility is currency. Splitting with Dan Edgar days before entering, per Daily Mail, she likely saw Chris—a single, high-profile figure with exes like Olivia Attwood—as a ticket to relevance. When JoJo, a global star with 45 million TikTok followers, outshone her, Ella’s plan crumbled. Her nomination of Chris, paired with JoJo’s of her, risks making her a target, with Express odds favoring Danny Beard or Trisha Goddard over her.

Could It Be Both?

Some fans argue Ella’s fury blends ego and slight attraction—her “terrible flirt” persona clashing with rejection—but the evidence leans strategic. Her lack of overt flirting with Chris, unlike her playful VT, and focus on discrediting JoJo suggest game over feelings. Had attraction been central, fans might’ve seen more direct pursuit, not shade-throwing from afar. Ella’s hurt pride, not heart, drove her to nominate Chris, hoping to fracture his alliance and regain control.

As Celebrity Big Brother airs weeknights at 9 PM, Ella’s next move is key. Will she double down on JoJo, reconcile with Chris, or fade as new dramas—like Patsy Palmer and Angellica Bell’s spat—take over? Fans on X are clear: Ella’s fury isn’t about a crush but a crown she thought she’d wear. “Ella played herself thinking Chris was her ticket,” one wrote. “JoJo’s got the house, and Ella’s got regrets.”