The tension between Olympic gymnasts MyKayla Skinner and Simone Biles has reached a peak with an urgent appeal from Skinner to end cyberbullying. A week after Biles made headlines by criticizing her former teammate in an Instagram post celebrating her victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Skinner issued a response.
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On Tuesday, Skinner, 27 years old, shared a video on Instagram with a clear message: "I love our country and I don't want to take anything away from our athletes. Let's use this time to support each other, not to bring others down."
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The meaningful video that Skinner recorded
In the video, Skinner explained that the online hate she has received since shading Biles has reached uncontrollable levels. In June, Skinner had criticized in a YouTube video the work ethic of Biles' teammates—Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, and Hazyl Rivera—triggering a wave of negative reactions. Since then, she has received threats directed at her, her husband Jonas Harmer, and their 10-month-old daughter, Charlotte.
"It's disgusting to see people applauding harassment," Skinner said. "Please, at this point, I just ask that it stops for the sake of my family because it's already enough." Skinner claimed to have apologized to her teammates and received a response from Biles, who said she was "proud" of her. "Imagine my surprise last week when I was celebrating our team's victory only to see this resurface due to a comment on an Instagram post," Skinner continued.
In the publication in question, Biles sarcastically referred to her gold medal-winning team as "lacking talent, lazy, Olympic champions." Skinner expressed her sadness by saying, “If Simone truly believes that I called our team lazy and lacking talent and if that is really how she feels, I am heartbroken by it. I am heartbroken not only because that is not what I feel or what I said before, but because Simone's latest post and others that followed have fueled another wave of hateful comments, direct messages, articles, and emails,” she said before addressing Biles directly.
“I am asking you directly and publicly to please put an end to this,” she pleaded. “Please ask your followers to stop.” Skinner emphasized that Biles has been “an incredible champion for mental health awareness,” concluding, “Many people need your help now. We have been attacked in ways that I am sure you never intended.” The situation highlights the importance of empathy and support in sports, underscoring how words and actions can have a profound impact on the personal and family life of athletes.