Just one comment was enough to upset model and mother Simone Holtznagel.
It wasn’t the sleepless nights, the feeling of being alone, or the exhaustion that people often talk about with new motherhood.
She received only $45 a week in child support from her daughter’s father, personal trainer Jono Castano – a small amount that he only recently increased, though it’s still not much.
It wasn’t even that Jono was 45 minutes late to see his daughter, Gia. He finally showed up and blamed the traffic in Sydney, but that wasn’t the main issue.
Absolutely not. Even that would have been too much to handle, honestly. I really can’t stand when people are late.
Simone, 33, finally snapped after Jono, 35, made a thoughtless and incredibly foolish remark when he arrived.
Simone said he didn’t directly ask if she was pregnant, but hinted at it by mentioning she was looking like she had a ‘tummy’.
Jono says his comments were taken out of context and that he didn’t mean to criticize her body. He claims he actually told her he was pleased for her if she was expecting a baby.
Lol. Okay, Jono. I’ll get to that later.
But whatever his exact words – and his version is still bad – it was enough for Simone to snap.
I was reliably informed that she intended to handle the situation discreetly, shielding Jono from the embarrassment of his child support payments becoming public, but his thoughtless comments ruined that plan.
We’d been hearing rumors in the wealthier parts of town that Simone was becoming increasingly unhappy. It was the kind of talk that spreads quickly, but people avoided repeating it publicly because of the potential for legal trouble.
And then it happened.
Simone revealed everything publicly, shattering Jono’s carefully constructed image as a loving father and successful celebrity trainer – a title many in the fitness world had always questioned.
As expected, Jono quickly responded, turning a previously private issue with uncertain details into a public discussion. This now invites opinions from anyone who has had negative experiences with Mr. Castano.
Let me be upfront: Jono and I have a past. He’s aware of it. I won’t go into specifics, but writing this piece feels like a long-awaited moment – and that’s putting it mildly.
Before I go on, let’s recap exactly what Simone said.
This weekend, the former contestant from Australia’s Next Top Model shared a video showing her giving a rude gesture while holding her child, and included this caption:
Just imagining how I’d react if my child’s father showed up 45 minutes late for his scheduled, supervised visit.
He was being driven in his girlfriend’s car by his wife, as neither of them had their own vehicle.
This so-called celebrity trainer also hasn’t held a valid license for four years and recently learned about the responsibility of paying more than $40 a week in child support.
‘And then has the audacity to ask if I’m pregnant because I “have a tummy”.
‘The confidence. The delusion. The absolute lack of self-awareness.’
It’s a truly impactful criticism, and especially satisfying because it’s been a long time coming.
Friends who know Jono had hinted at this, so it’s not surprising to hear he’s providing financial support for his nearly two-year-old daughter, Gia.
After Simone publicly revealed damaging information, Jono shared screenshots showing he’d paid her between $2,742 and $2,834 over a period from December 2025 to January 2026.
Look, I understand child support is being paid now, but it’s frustrating. My child, Gia, was born in May 2024, and the parents separated just two months later. So, why haven’t I seen consistent, meaningful payments until December? It just doesn’t add up, and I deserve an explanation.
Jono, naturally, had an answer to that.
I love my daughter and would do anything for her. That’s why I was so upset when someone tried to pay me only $40, knowing it wasn’t the correct amount, as I explained in a video I posted with the screenshots.
He admitted he’d only been paying $45 a week until recently. He said they couldn’t reach an agreement on the payment amount, and Simone had asked for a sum he considered unreasonably high. While this explains the low payments, I don’t think it excuses them.
Jono, I understand figuring out child support isn’t easy. However, $45 a week isn’t nearly enough while you and the other parent work things out. It won’t even cover the basics, like diapers, let alone everything a child needs.
Seriously, who talked you into thinking this was okay? I’m not trying to be dismissive – I genuinely want to know what led you to believe this was acceptable.
It’s amazing Simone managed to stay silent for so long, but looking back, maybe it wasn’t that unexpected.
Following a separation, particularly when children are involved, women often don’t react dramatically to major issues. It’s simply not practical. Instead, they tend to handle things internally, quietly coping with the pain, confiding in close friends, and persistently trying to resolve problems and maintain a functional situation.
As a lifestyle expert, I see so many people prioritizing peace – especially when kids are involved. It often means biting your tongue around an ex, overlooking moments where they weren’t exactly considerate, and pushing down your own feelings. We convince ourselves that being strong means suffering in silence and that maturity is about not expressing what’s truly bothering us. It’s a common pattern, but honestly, it’s not always the healthiest way to navigate things.
Often, women act the way they do because they’re driven by a deep desire to protect their children, even if it creates inner conflict. We’re not claiming to be perfect or selfless, but we genuinely try, and usually for much longer than people think.
I also recognize that single dads face challenges. Some divorced fathers are hurt by ex-wives who use their children to get back at them, and this kind of behavior – alienating a child from their father – is wrong. Fathers are often the ones who suffer the most from this.
I know that every story has at least three perspectives: what each person involved claims happened, and the actual truth, which is often a blend of both sides.
From my perspective, the situation is straightforward: for several months, a man presenting himself as a successful entrepreneur was only paying around $50 a week in child support.
Only in December – perhaps in the spirit of Christmas – did he start to pay more.
You can’t come after me for saying it, Jono. You admitted as much yourself.
I’ve noticed you driving around the east side in your Mercedes with that custom ‘ACERO’ license plate – it’s good advertising for your Kensington gym, especially since you say all the famous people work out there. You clearly aren’t short on cash.
It completely makes sense to me why Simone finally reached her breaking point. While the comment about her body might have been the final trigger, this frustration wasn’t sudden – it had been building up over months, even years.
I get it. Women everywhere get it.
Jono is now focusing on claims that his reputation is being damaged and that agreements preventing negative statements have been violated. This seems like a typical defense from someone in a difficult situation. If he’s struggling to pay child support, it’s surprising he can afford a lawyer to pursue this further.
Now, back to the ‘tummy’ comment (I did promise I’d return to it, didn’t I?).
Honestly, Jono, that was a silly thing to do. Everyone knows you should never ask a woman if she’s pregnant, or even suggest it. It’s just not done.
Even if she’s obviously pregnant – like, really obviously, shopping for baby supplies with a huge belly and even wearing a shirt that says ‘I’M PREGNANT’ – it still wouldn’t change things.
Jono runs a popular gym known for its attractive, fit clientele. While he’s likely worked with people of all body types, it’s important to remember that the way he speaks has a real impact.
I really don’t understand how he could even hint at Simone’s body without realizing how upsetting – and honestly, disrespectful – that comment would be to someone who isn’t expecting a baby.
Many people feel the same way, and social media is full of mothers expressing their strong disapproval.
We understand the underlying meaning behind that comment. We immediately sense the negativity, and can tell what the speaker really meant, even if they later try to explain it away, claim it was a misunderstanding, or clarify their exact words.
Over the last two days, I’ve talked with several mothers who are co-parenting with the fathers of their children after a separation, and they’re all working hard to raise their kids.
Without exception, they understand precisely why Simone reached her limit last week.
A good way to understand this is with a famous quote from Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. The conversation goes like this:
‘How did you go bankrupt?’
‘Two ways,’ Mike said. ‘Gradually and then suddenly.’
It’s the same here.
What appeared to be a sudden crisis was actually the culmination of problems that had been building for quite some time.
Simone’s reckoning didn’t come out of nowhere – it arrived gradually, and then all at once.
Jono, choose your next move carefully. Your ‘baby mama’ is no longer interested in keeping secrets.
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