Simone Biles is being called out by her rival, Mykayla Skinner. After their feud intensified amid Biles’ recent victories at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Skinner is speaking up about the cyberbullying she has endured. The retired gymnast wants the back and forth to end as it is entering dangerous waters for her and her family.
A somber Skinner expressed her dilemma in a four-minute video on Instagram. “I sincerely hoped that this topic wouldn’t need to be revisited, but unfortunately, things have really gotten out of hand lately,” she began. “It’s one thing to disagree with me regarding something I have said or a point I was trying to make, but it’s something else entirely when that turns into cyberbullying or even worse.” Skinner explained that fans celebrated the bullying, which spiraled into “physical threats” against her husband and daughter.
“So please at this point, I’m just asking for it to stop for the sake of my family because enough is enough.”
Skinner referenced the July 2024 video that made her public enemy number. The 27-year-old “took responsibility” for the harm the since-deleted YouTube clip caused. “The last thing I wanted was to cause harm or offend our U.S. Olympic team,” she explained. As a result, she posted an apology video and reached out to all the women, including Biles.
“Only Simone had responded and she told me that she was proud of me. 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.”
Mykayla Skinner Says Simone Biles ‘Fueled’ Hateful Comments
An emotional Skinner said she was “heartbroken” because of how Biles reacted to her controversial video. “I am really heartbroken over it. But not just heartbroken because it isn’t what I feel or even how I previously said, but because Simone’s latest post and others that followed it fueled another wave of hateful comments.” As a last resort to end the cyberbullying, the Arizona native called on her former colleague.
To 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.”
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Simone Biles Wraps up 2024 Olympics With Four Medals, Now She’s Ready to Party: ‘Wildest Dreams’Biles and Skinner’s beef began in July when she critiqued Team USA after their selection at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Skinner insinuated team members Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera didn’t have a “work ethic” like Biles. Following the team snagging gold at the Women’s Gymnastics final, Biles threw jabs at Skinner. “Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions,” she captioned a celebratory post featuring the entire team. A day later, the 11-time Olympic medalist revealed on X that Skinner blocked her. Biles, who has wrapped up her 2024 Olympics journey is yet to respond to Skinner’s pleas.
