Trending 7th August 2024 by Stellar Magazine

Everything That’s Happened With The Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner Feud

"Oop"

The Paris Olympics have been quite the spectacle so far.

From the chaotic opening ceremony to the issues with the River Seine to Ireland having its most successful Olympics, there have been countless hours of entertainment to watch and drama-filled stories to read about over the last few weeks.

One of the biggest stories to come out of Paris 2024 has been Simone Biles’ comeback. The 27-year-old American gymnast has won three golds and a silver medal at this year’s Olympics, marking an amazing return to the sport after withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics due to suffering from the twisties. 

 

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A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles)

Amidst her stand-out performances over the last couple of weeks that have been watched and praised worldwide, she has also been at the centre of a feud with MyKayla Skinner, a retired gymnast who competed alongside Simone for the United States at the Tokyo Olympics.

Here is all we know about Simone and MyKayla’s back and forth.

Origins of the Drama

In a since-deleted video posted on her YouTube channel recapping the Olympic Trials in June, MyKayla made comments about the U.S. team’s performance. 

“Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t what it used to be. I mean, obviously, a lot of girls don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work ethic,” she said.

Later that day, Simone subtly responded to MyKayla’s comments on Threads. “Not everyone needs a mic and a platform.”

MyKayla Apologises

After receiving backlash, MyKayla took to Instagram Stories to clarify the comments she made in her YouTube video.

“I feel like a lot of you guys had misinterpreted or misunderstood exactly what I was meaning or had said,” MyKayla said. 

She added that the comments she made in the video “wasn’t always necessarily about the current team, because I love and support all the girls that made it and I’m so proud of them.”

“Sorry for anything that got out of context or seemed hurtful. That is never my intention,” MyKayla apologised to the U.S. gymnastics team.

Simone Shades MyKayla

After the U.S. gymnastic team won the all-around final on July 30, Simone posted the next day a photo of herself and teammates Jordan Chiles, Henzly Rivera, Jade Carey and Suni Lee celebrating their win and captioned it, “lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions.”

 

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A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles)

Many interpreted the caption as a dig at MyKayla over her previous comments about their work ethic. 

MyKayla Blocks Simone

Shortly after Simone posted on Instagram, she found herself blocked by MyKayla. 

She let her followers on X know by simply writing, “oop I’ve been blocked.”

Simone’s teammate Jordan Chiles confirmed the blocking on her Instagram by posting a photo showing MyKayla’s account being blocked on Simone’s phone and captioned it, “When she blocks Simone.”

MyKayla Speaks Out

On August 6, Mykayla posted a video on her Instagram speaking out about the bullying and threats she and her family have received over her back and forth with Simone. 

She recapped the previous events and stated that she had sent individual written apologies to each of the girls on the U.S. team before the Olympics began. She said Simone was the only one who responded and she said she was proud of MyKayla.

MyKayla admits she was shocked to see Simone’s caption after the U.S. won gold as she thought things were resolved.

She then made a public plea to Simone to ask her fans to stop sending her and her family death threats.

“To Simone, I am asking you directly and publicly to please put a stop to this.” 

“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.”

MyKayla also mentioned on her Instagram Stories that she will be taking a break from social media.

Simone has not responded to MyKayla as of yet.

Hopefully, these incredible gymnasts resolve their feud soon as we hate to see such great Olympic moments be outshined by drama beyond the mat.

Words by Amélie Mahony

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