Photo credit: extratv.com

MyKayla Skinner Appeals to Simone Biles to Address Cyberbullying

In a recent development following the U.S. women’s gymnastics team’s victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics, MyKayla Skinner has publicly reached out to fellow gymnast Simone Biles, requesting her assistance in combating cyberbullying. This comes after a comment made by Biles on Instagram, which Skinner perceived as a slight against her.

In an emotional Instagram video, Skinner shared her distress over receiving threats that have included allegations of potential physical harm toward her family. “I’m just asking for it to stop for the sake of my family because enough is enough,” she stated, highlighting the serious nature of the harassment she is facing.

Skinner directly addressed Biles, saying, “To Simone, I am asking you directly and publicly to please put a stop to this. Please ask your followers to stop.” This plea underlines the influential role Biles holds in the gymnastics community, where many look to her as a leader and advocate for mental health awareness.

“You have been an incredible champion for mental health awareness, and a lot of people need your help now,” Skinner continued. “We’ve been hurt and attacked in ways that I am certain you never intended. Your performance, your team’s performance, and the Olympics, in general, should be a time that we support one another and lift each other and our country up.” She concluded, expressing her hope to unify their team and support fellow athletes as they progress through the competition.

Following the initial Instagram post from Biles, it became evident that tensions were rising between the two athletes, leading Skinner to block Biles on social media. Biles later acknowledged this on X, noting, “Oop I’ve been blocked.” Biles’ teammate, Jordan Chiles, corroborated this by sharing a screenshot confirming that Skinner had indeed blocked Biles.

Compounding the situation, Skinner previously made controversial remarks about the U.S. gymnastics team in a now-deleted YouTube video, where she suggested that the current team lacked talent and work ethic compared to past teams, apart from Biles. Although she later apologized for these statements, claiming they were “misinterpreted,” the fallout has clearly created a rift.

The ongoing situation underscores the broader challenges faced by athletes, especially in the realm of social media, where public comments can lead to significant backlash and mental health struggles. It raises critical questions about the responsibility of public figures to foster a positive and supportive environment within their communities.

Source
extratv.com