Featured Image Credit: LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images/Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Topics: Simone Biles, Sport, Olympics, US News
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Simone Biles, Sport, Olympics, US News
MyKayla Skinner has hit out at Simone Biles after the beloved gymnast appeared to throw shade at her at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The feud between former Team USA teammates Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner has had plenty of twists and turns.
The ex-pals have come to blows despite Skinner being absent from the sporting tournament in Paris, having not been selected by coaches earlier this year.
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The heated row began following the 27-year-old's 'snub', when a now-deleted video heard Skinner making several eyebrow-raising remarks about her former teammates.
"Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn't like what it used to be," she said.
"The girls just don't have the work ethic," Skinner - who previously competed at the Tokyo Games alongside gold medalist Biles - added.
Though she was subsequently quick to retract her claims and swiftly put out an apology, many thought the damage had been done.
And taking to Instagram last week, however, Biles took aim at her former friend, by sharing a snap alongside co-gymnasts - Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera, with whom she won gold in the women's artistic team all-around event earlier this week - with a sarcastic caption.
"Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions," she penned in a pretty impressive mic-drop moment.
In the hours that followed, it transpired that Skinner had blocked Biles on social media, according to a photo posted by teammate Chiles, who wrote: "When she blocks Simone."
Now, in yet another plot twist, Skinner has uploaded a lengthy statement online, in which she appealed directly to Biles.
After saying she takes '100% responsibility for poorly articulating the point I was trying to make' when speaking about the Team USA's gymnastic team's work ethic, she then accused Biles' followers of 'cyberbullying'.
Skinner said: "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.
"Watching people cheer on the bully which has led to threats of physical harm to me, my husband and our daughter is disgusting."
She hit out at Biles directly for the apparent dig in her Instagram caption, saying: "If Simone truly believes that I called her team lazy and lacking talent and if that’s how she really feels then I’m really heartbroken over it.
"Not just heartbroken because it isn’t how I feel or isn’t what I previously said, but heartbroken because it fuelled another wave of hateful comments, DMs, articles and emails and includes death threats to me, my family and even my agent."
She then made a direct plea to Biles, continuing: "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 and a lot of people need your help now.
"We've been hurt and attacked in ways that I’m certain you never intended. Your performance, the team’s performance and the Olympics in general should be a time that we support one another and lift each and our country up."
Skinner continued: "I love our country and I love our team. And I hope that we can move on and move forward and cheer on the rest of our teammates and athletes together."
Biles is yet to respond to the most recent update - though we have no doubt she will...