MyKayla Skinner, a former USA gymnastics star who earned a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has urged Simone Biles to put an end to the bullying she claims to have experienced amid their ongoing dispute.
In a nearly four-minute video, Skinner expressed her desire for the mistreatment to cease and disclosed that she had been subjected to “death threats” due to the perceived rivalry with the 11-time Olympian.
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Simone Biles of the United States competes during the women’s floor exercise final of artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Cheng Min/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“I truly hoped this issue wouldn’t resurface, but things have escalated recently,” Skinner stated. “Disagreeing with my comments is one thing, but turning that into cyberbullying and even threatening my safety is entirely different. It’s appalling to witness people encouraging this bullying, which has resulted in threats against me, my husband, and our child. I’m simply asking for it to stop for the sake of my family—enough is enough.”
“The reason I’m speaking up is that about four weeks ago, I made a remark about work ethic and its perceived decline in the younger generation. I want to be clear—I take full responsibility for miscommunicating my point, and I never aimed to harm or offend our U.S. Olympic team. These women are exceptional—truly the best of the best—most of whom were my former teammates, and I’ve enjoyed rooting for them in recent years.”
Earlier this year, Skinner found herself in hot water with the Team USA women’s gymnastics team.
MyKayla Skinner of Team United States competes in the Women’s Vault Final on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on August 01, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
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“Aside from Simone, I feel like the talent and depth in gymnastics isn’t the same as it used to be. Many athletes aren’t putting in the hard work as before. The dedication just seems lacking,” Skinner stated in a now-deleted YouTube video, as reported by the New York Post.
Following the backlash to her comments, Skinner issued an apology. In response, Biles and her teammates channeled the energy into their performance, winning the team final last week at the Paris Games.
Biles shared a series of photos on Instagram showcasing her and her teammates proudly waving the American flag to celebrate their gold medal win in the team event. In her post, she was clear in her sentiments.
“Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions,” she expressed.
In her recent video, Skinner mentioned that she believed she had reconciled with Biles but now feels “heartbroken” over the ongoing conflict.
MyKayla Skinner of Team United States poses with the silver medal following the Women’s Vault Final on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on August 01, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
“I feel heartbroken not just because of how things have transpired, but also because Simone’s recent posts and the subsequent responses have ignited another wave of toxic comments, direct messages, articles, and emails, including death threats directed at me, my family, and my agent. My loved ones do not deserve this; they have done nothing wrong,” Skinner added.
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“Simone, I’m asking you directly and publicly to intervene and put a stop to this. Please urge your followers to cease their attacks. You’ve been an outstanding advocate for mental health awareness, and many people could benefit from your influence at this time. We’ve faced attacks that I’m sure you never intended. The Olympics should be a time for us to support one another, not tear each other down.”
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