MyKayla Skinner Says Simone Biles “Broke Her Heart” Over Clapback but Wants to ‘Move on and Move Forward’
MyKayla Skinner Addresses Instagram Drama with Simone Biles Amid Olympic Games
MyKayla Skinner has responded to recent drama with Simone Biles during the 2024 Olympic Games. Skinner, 27, spoke out in a video posted on August 6, addressing an Instagram caption by Biles that seemed to shade her. Skinner urged Biles to ask her followers to stop cyberbullying her and her family.
The conflict began in June when Skinner criticized the 2024 U.S. women’s artistic gymnastics team in a since-deleted YouTube video. She later apologized, saying her comments were “misinterpreted” and issued written apologies to the entire Team USA lineup, including Biles, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, Suni Lee, and Hezly Rivera. Skinner noted that only Biles responded positively at that time.
However, after Team USA’s recent gold medal win, Biles posted a caption that Skinner felt reignited the issue, leading to more hateful comments and even death threats directed at Skinner, her husband, and their young daughter. Skinner expressed heartbreak over Biles’ implication that she called the team “lazy and lacking talent.”
In her plea to Biles, Skinner highlighted Biles’ advocacy for mental health and asked for her support in stopping the cyberbullying. Skinner emphasized the importance of unity and support during the Olympics, expressing her love for the team and the country.
Skinner also took full responsibility for her poorly articulated comments and reiterated that she never intended to offend or disrespect her former teammates. She acknowledged the excellence of the current team and explained that her remarks were influenced by unresolved issues from the “Marta Era.”
Skinner concluded by asking for an end to the online harassment for the sake of her family, expressing her admiration for her former teammates and their achievements. The issue became public when Biles and Chiles revealed that Skinner had blocked Biles on Instagram following Biles’ caption.
Skinner and Biles have a shared history, having both competed in the Tokyo Games and previously been part of the U.S. national team.
Leave a Reply