Tennis star draws backlash for calling girlfriend a ‘hippo’ in video

Tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has been called out on social media for his “red flag” behavior with fellow tennis player girlfriend Paula Badosa.

Tsitsipas, currently ranked 11th in the world, “jokingly” referred to Badosa as a “hippo,” while on vacation.

He made the remark in a series of videos on his Instagram Story taken during the tennis power couple’s trip to Monaco after both were eliminated from Wimbledon, the New York Post reported.

“Today’s series of Stefanos Tsitsipas Instastories, in which he mocks and insults his girlfriend Paula Badosa, are deeply uncomfortable to watch,” X user Tennis Blockade wrote, sharing the footage.

“Paula is hungry as always. That is why I started calling her a hippo,” Tsitsipas said at the beginning of the video.

He later goes on to say Badosa has “earned her lunch” and asks her what she is ordering.

“You are allowed to eat now as much as you want, so I am just telling you this, because there is plenty of walking back after,” Tsitsipas said. “You have earned it so far.”

“Is this normal, girls? Please help me,” Badosa interjected.

He continues to inform Badosa that her name means “small and humble” and that she is “none of those.”

Badosa rolled her eyes as Tsitsipas continued to mock her. “So why did your parents give you Paula as your first name?”

“Because I am very humble and I am very small and I have a big heart,” she said, sticking her tongue out at her boyfriend.

“But you are not small. You are quite grander…” he said. “And your humility? Where is it? Because I haven’t found it yet.”

Badosa also posted a video to her own Instagram of the tennis power couple walking the streets of Monaco.

“I want you to become fitter. That is the nice way of saying it,” Tsitsipas said before handing her a suitcase to make the walk more difficult.

“There is a strategy behind it,” he said. “I’m using strategy behind it. Why do I make you walk the entire Monaco? Well, I leave the assumptions to you.”

Some social media users ripped the tennis star for his behavior while others came to his defense.

“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 jackass,” one user wrote.

“The amount of commenters who think this is normal or cute relationship banter is alarming,” another said. “What kind of relationship models do these people have in their lives?”

“I literally call my boyfriend HIPPO and he calls me MS PIGGY every time we go and eat. Its a cute little thing we do. Its not that deep, people are having fun you know?,” one user said.

“It’s the character from a children’s book, Hungry Hungry Hippo. They are both teasing each other & having lovers’ banter,” another said. “They are both world class athletes & have to burn off those calories. Calm down.”

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.