Gymnast Gabby Douglas has caused quite the stir with her remarks to Olympian Aly Raisman who has said she was sexually abused by the US women’s gymnastics team doctor.
Douglas tweeted, “It is our responsibility as women to dress modestly and be classy,” Douglas tweeted. “Dressing in a provocative/sexual way entices the wrong crowd.”
The 21-year-old has since deleted the tweet but she made the comment while retweeting Raisman’s post that said, “We are all in this together. If we’re going to create change, I need all your help.”
In August, Raisman, 23, and a three-time gold Olympic medal winner revealed on 60 Minutes that she was sexually molested by Dr. Larry Nassar. Nassar is currently jailed after pleading guilty to child pornography charges.
As of this writing over 130 women have filed civil lawsuits against him on the grounds that he abused them when he was supposed to be treating their injuries.
I’m so frustrated because I looked up to you for so long. I was assaulted when I was 11. In my pajamas. Please tell me how i could’ve prevented this and how I didn’t have responsibility.
— jess (@riseupliam) November 17, 2017
“The people at the very top, that work at the office every single day at USA Gymnastics, they need to do better,” Raisman said, before adding, “It’s making me sad. I’m here to support my teammates because we got inducted to the Hall of Fame and I’m here to support the girls who are competing. I love the Olympics, I love gymnastics, I love the sport. But I don’t support how USA Gymnastics is handling everything right now.”
It didn’t take long for Twitter users to pile on Douglas for her inappropriate comments. One of the people who had something to say was fellow Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. She made sure her support for Raisman was clear, posting, “shocks me that I’m seeing this but it doesn’t surprise me… honestly seeing this brings me to tears bc as your teammate I expected more from you & to support her. I support you Aly & all the other women out there! STAY STRONG.”
Douglas didn’t seem to understand why people were so upset with her at first and began replying to her critics with what appeared to be confusion.
Later, however, she apologized blaming the tweet on her not being able to correctly word what she was trying to say.
“Regardless of what you wear, abuse under any circumstances is never acceptable. I am WITH you. #metoo,” she added.
It wasn't enough for Gabby Douglas to just look like Azealia. She had to go and tweet like her too? pic.twitter.com/NDtZkQckvG
— Rach A'lisse (@Cantsitbehindme) November 17, 2017
At one point Gabby Douglas was being criticized on an international scale for her “bad hair” and “attitude,” and SO MANY people supported her to drown out the silly critics. She knows how it feels, but here she is shaming Aly Raisman on sexual assault. It’s gross.
— Lea (@_MissLeandra) November 17, 2017
shocks me that I’m seeing this but it doesn’t surprise me… honestly seeing this brings me to tears bc as your teammate I expected more from you & to support her. I support you Aly ? & all the other women out there!
STAY STRONG pic.twitter.com/CccTzhyPcb— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) November 17, 2017
Me seeing Gabby Douglas' tweet about dressing modestly to Aly Raisman as she opens up being molested by the team doctor. pic.twitter.com/Ax9lThGiEi
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) November 18, 2017
Cancel Gabby Douglas. Anybody can get it. She’s not immune. Plus, weren’t her fellow gymnasts assaulted by the team doctor? Attire is entirely irrelevant in every single case, including here. pic.twitter.com/bZD4ogdm3s
— April (@ReignOfApril) November 17, 2017
We are all in this together. If we are going to create change I need all your help. pic.twitter.com/q9d12z0KHn
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) November 17, 2017
We should've known Gabby Douglas wasn't to be trusted after she got on National television and tried to convince us that this was the Dougie. pic.twitter.com/8Eiljcf7ZZ
— Shane Ravello ?? (@ShaneRavello) November 17, 2017
