Simone Biles firmly defended her teammates after controversial remarks made by MyKayla Skinner, a retired Olympic gymnast and former member of Team USA. Biles and her squad, known as the “Golden Girls,” secured the gold medal in the team finals, a victory Biles celebrated on Instagram with a pointed response to Skinner’s critical comments. Skinner, who earned a silver medal in the 2020 Olympics, had released a YouTube video where she criticized the current work ethic of U.S. gymnasts, specifically excluding Biles from her critique. Though Skinner later deleted the video, its content continued to circulate widely on social media.
In her video, Skinner claimed that the level of talent and dedication among U.S. gymnasts had diminished over time. She singled out Biles as an exception, praising her work ethic but criticizing other gymnasts for lacking the same level of commitment. Skinner partially attributed this decline to the SafeSport abuse awareness training program, suggesting that coaches are now restricted in how they can motivate athletes. “Coaches can’t get on athletes, and they have to be really careful what they say,” she commented.
Biles responded to these criticisms on Instagram, defending her teammates Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera. She captioned her post with the words “lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions,” accompanied by gold medal and USA flag emojis, directly addressing and countering Skinner’s allegations.
Biles’ teammates supported her stance in the comments. Chiles affirmed her with “and that’s on periodt!!” Lee added a more direct challenge, stating, “put a finger down if Simone Biles just ended you,” with a hand emoji.
Past Olympic gymnasts also showed their support. Nastia Liukin simply wrote “micdrop,” while Laurie Hernandez commented, “LMAOOOO I LOVE YALL.” McKayla Maroney humorously distanced herself from Skinner, saying, “It doesn’t get more iconic than this. She f’d around n found out fr. Feels like I need to apologize just to redeem my first name.”
Following the backlash, Skinner took to her Instagram Story to clarify her comments, stating that they were mainly directed at gymnasts from her own gym and not necessarily the current national team. She expressed her admiration and pride for the current team, emphasizing that her remarks were not intended to be hurtful. “Sorry for anything that got out of context or seemed hurtful. That is never my intention,” she said. “Throughout the video, I was so pumped for the girls, and it was so fun watching trials and doing a live with everybody.”
Meanwhile, at a separate event in Hollywood, California, Bustle hosted their B.Happy event, a day filled with various fun and interactive activities for attendees. Sponsored by the All-New Toyota Camry, the event featured a car-wash-themed “maze of merriment” leading to various engaging spaces. These included a glimmering coffee corner, a cute claw machine, a mirror room, and a prize wheel to determine if attendees were “passenger royalty.” Tarot readers Sophia Knapp and Kate Van Horn provided directional guidance for anyone seeking it.
As DJ Daisy O’Dell played a mix of girly pop tunes, guests explored booths curated to bring joy. Lifestyle brand Dairy Boy offered DIY embroidery at a denim bar, while Artless Forever hosted illustrator Creating With Jade for live sketches. Brooklyn-based jewelry brand Rellery provided permanent jewelry with angel numbers, and brand agency Air Milkshake set up a paint-by-numbers station with kits from Paint Anywhere.
For snacks, the Wellness Bar by Woo More Play featured a Glazing Station with doughnuts from San Diego-based Donut Bar. The beverage line Human Desire offered mood-enhancing tonics, contributing to the cheerful atmosphere.
Through her response to Skinner’s comments, Biles showcased her leadership and solidarity with her team, reinforcing the strength and unity of the current U.S. gymnastics team. The supportive reaction from her teammates and past Olympians highlighted the community’s resilience and mutual respect.
