Simone Biles does not regret calling out MyKayla Skinner in defense of her current Team USA teammates after their impressive performance at the Paris Olympics. The US’ most decorated gymnast said she believes it was the right move before Skinner, who was Biles’ former teammate in the 2021 Tokyo Games, made a plea to Biles to tell her social media followers to stop sending her hate comments. “It’s important because you have to teach them to use their voices,” Biles told People on Tuesday. “And if not, you’re a voice for the voiceless, which is okay. I just felt like it was right in that moment to stand up for them, because they’re so young and they haven’t fully stood in their power yet.”
Simone Biles fired subtle shots at MyKayla Skinner over her criticism of the USA gymnastics team earlier this year. https://t.co/59uRdYWmlH
— FOX6 News (@fox6now) August 7, 2024
After Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera won gold at the team all-around final in Paris, the seven-time gold medalist captioned an Instagram post using similar language to Skinner’s criticism of the team’s “work ethic” in a since-deleted YouTube video. Skinner, who retired from gymnastics three years ago after winning a silver medal in Tokyo, claimed that the team of women were getting “lazy.” “Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t like what it used to be. Just notice like, I mean, obviously a lot of girls don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work ethic,” Skinner said in a picked-up clip from the deleted YouTube video and has since gone viral on X. “Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions ❤🥇🇺🇸,” Biles’ Instagram caption reads. Biles, 27, later revealed that she has been blocked by Skinner on Instagram. “For somebody to stand up, I know it meant a lot for [my teammates],” she added to People.
On Tuesday, Skinner claimed in an Instagram video to have received tons of “hateful comments” and “death threats.” Skinner put out an Instagram video asking Biles to help put an end to the wave of comments that have attacked herself, her husband Jonas Harmer, and their 23-month-old daughter Charlotte Jane. “Simone, I am asking you directly and publicly, to please put a stop to this. Please ask your followers to stop, you have been an incredible champion for mental health awareness and a lot of people need your help now,” Skinner said.
Former Team USA gymnast MyKayla Skinner says she’s received death threats and been the target of other cyberbullying, and she’s calling on Simone Biles to put an end to it. https://t.co/QGNnTFU4Vk
— KENS 5 (@KENS5) August 7, 2024
Skinner apologized on social media last month for comments towards the team and said she sent out messages to each of the five gymnasts ahead of the Paris Games. In Tuesday’s video, she said she had only heard back from one gymnast. “Only Simone had responded and she told me that she was proud of me,” Skinner said. “You guys can imagine my surprise last week when I was celebrating our team winning gold just to see this brought up all over again by a caption on an Instagram post.” Biles walked away from Paris with four more medals — three gold and one silver — and she may not be done just yet.
Key Points:
i. Simone Biles defends current Team USA gymnasts: Biles called out MyKayla Skinner’s criticism of the team’s work ethic, emphasizing the importance of using one’s voice to stand up for others.
ii. Skinner’s controversial comments: Skinner, a retired gymnast, accused the current team of being lazy, which sparked backlash and support from Biles for her teammates.
iii. Biles’ strong response: Biles’ Instagram post highlighted the team’s achievements and dismissed Skinner’s claims, resulting in Biles being blocked by Skinner on social media.
iv. Skinner’s plea for peace: Following the backlash, Skinner requested Biles’ help to stop the wave of hate comments and threats she received, calling for an end to cyberbullying.
v. Biles’ support and Skinner’s apology: Biles had previously expressed pride in Skinner, and Skinner apologized for her comments, sending supportive messages to the team before the Paris Games.
TL Holcomb – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
