Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has come under fire for making ‘deeply uncomfortable’ comments to his WTA star girlfriend Paula Badosa about her weight.
The controversy began after Tsitsipas posted a series of videos on his Instagram Story during the couple’s trip to Monaco, where he jokingly referred to Badosa as a ‘hippo’ and made comments about her fitness.
In one clip, Tsitsipas, currently ranked 11th in the world, mentioned that he was making Badosa carry her suitcase up a hill to ‘earn her lunch.’
He said, ‘Paula is hungry as always, that’s why I started calling her hippo. I want you to become fitter. That’s the nice way of saying it.
‘This walk is about you becoming even more fit. I’m using strategy behind it. Why am I making you walk the entire Monaco? I leave the assumptions to you.’
Another video showed Badosa expressing relief at finally reaching a restaurant, telling Tsitsipas, ‘I’m having the entire menu. I’m sweating, I’m so tired, I’m starving.’
Tsitsipas responded, ‘You can eat as much as you want. I’m telling you this as there is plenty of walking after.’
‘Is this OK girls? Please help me,’ she pleads into the camera.
Tsitsipas is stony-faced as he insists that his tennis star girlfriend Badosa carries her luggage while they walk at a frenetic pace while she gives a single digit response
Badosa pleads with the camera after being berated by the Greek tennis star: ‘help me girls’
He continued to mock her as she ate, declaring, ‘Your name means small and humble, but you are none of those. One thing you are not is small. You are quite grande (big). Where is your humility? I haven’t found it yet.’
Many social media users did not find humour in the exchange.
One wrote, ‘Today’s series of Stefanos Tsitsipas Instastories, in which he mocks and insults his girlfriend Paula Badosa, are deeply uncomfortable to watch.’
Another commented, ‘Pro tip: Your boyfriend shouldn’t call you a hippo and tell you you’ve earned the right to eat food because you can walk it off later. What a jack*ss.’
Others defended Tsitsipas, arguing that his comments were intended as sarcastic humor.
One supporter stated, ‘They are world-class athletes motivating each other while trying to balance how much & what they eat & the amount of exercise they are getting all while teasing each other & having fun.
‘Both are whipping each other into shape & being each other’s coach. If you do not get Stef’s sarcastic humor, then you don’t have to date him.’
Tsitsipas and Badosa announced themselves as a couple at Wimbledon in 2023 before splitting May this year, then re-uniting
The controversy comes after Badosa, formerly ranked world No. 2, announced earlier this year that she and Tsitsipas had ended their nearly year-long romantic relationship but intended to remain friends.
Despite their breakup, recent footage showed the pair walking hand in hand in Monaco and enjoying time together.
Tsitsipas has previously faced criticism for his views on gender roles.
A video he shared portrayed men as ‘providers’ and women in more subsidiary roles, which many fans found offensive.
The video, showing scenes of family life, claimed, ‘Men and women are not the same, and that is a blessing. He provides and protects, I [the woman] multiply. He is the head of the family, I am the heart… He provides the ingredients, I make the meal.’
This video resurfaced following Tsitsipas’s recent remarks, with one fan noting, ‘Crazy when his gf is a working woman… sigh.’
Despite this, Tsitsipas was seen supporting Badosa at Wimbledon, where he posted a loving message after she reached the fourth round, writing, ‘Proud of you @paulabadosa,’ with a heart emoji.
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