The former gymnast has encountered a storm of criticism for her remarks concerning the U.S. women's gymnastics squad: "Beyond Simone, it seems the talent pool and depth are a far cry from their former glory." MyKayla Skinner, herself a decorated gymnast, has now issued a heartfelt plea to Simon Biles, urging her to "halt the cyberbullying tide" that has engulfed her in the wake of her controversial opinions about the current team.
In a soul-baring Instagram post on Tuesday, Skinner implored Biles to rally her social media followers to desist from spreading malice and issuing threats amidst their perceived rift. "I had fervently hoped this discourse would not necessitate revisiting, but alas, things have spiraled dangerously out of control. Disagreement over my words or viewpoints is one thing; however, its transformation into cyberbullying—or worse—is an altogether different matter," Skinner lamented in a lengthy, impassioned video.
"To witness people cheer on this bullying, which has culminated in threats of physical harm towards me, my husband, and our daughter, is nothing short of appalling. Hence, I humbly beseech, for the sake of my family, let this cease. Enough is truly enough."
Skinner, the vault silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, had already faced a backlash leading up to the 2024 Games due to her assessment of some former teammates, who have been shining brightly at the Paris Games. "Beyond Simone, the talent pool and competitive depth appear to have diminished," Skinner had shared in a YouTube video last month. "It's evident that many girls simply don't put in the same hard work. They lack the necessary work ethic."
In response, Biles' Instagram post celebrating the U.S. team's triumph seemingly alluded to Skinner's remarks, captioning it with "Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions." Skinner disclosed that she had personally reached out to each member of the U.S. gymnastics team, yet Biles was the lone responder, expressing pride in her. This left Skinner "stunned" by Biles' subsequent Instagram caption.
"If Simone genuinely believes I branded our team as lazy and talent-deficient, and if that's how she truly feels, my heart is shattered. But not merely because it misrepresents my sentiments or even my earlier statements; it's because Simone's recent post and subsequent ones ignited another torrent of hateful comments, DMs, articles, and emails. This hate includes death threats towards me, my family, and even my agent. My loved ones and friends have been unfairly dragged into this crossfire. They are innocent bystanders."
Her video concluded with a direct and public appeal to Biles: "To Simone, I beseech you, please put an end to this. Urge your followers to cease. You've been an extraordinary advocate for mental health awareness, and many souls desperately need your intervention now. We've been attacked in ways I'm certain were never your intention. Your performances, the team's achievements, and the Olympics as a whole should be a time for mutual support and uplifting each other."
