Simone Biles Addresses Viral Olympic Instagram Story: ‘If You Don't Like it, You Don't Like it’

While USA gymnast Simone Biles was in Paris for the 2024 Olympics, someone made a less-than-flattering comment to her about her hair during a 45-minute-long bus ride about town without air conditioning.

The 27-year-old took to Instagram to voice her frustration with what happened, making a two-part story where she let people know it’s not OK to comment on someone else’s appearance, especially in such a public setting.

And in a recent interview with People.com, Biles opened up about the incident, explaining why she felt the need to educate her following about proper social etiquette.

“We were on the bus and it was 97 degrees and we were sweating bullets,” Biles said . “I'd just freshly pressed out my edges and I was like, ‘Oh God, I just know they're going to want to start with my hair, so I'm going to set the record straight.’

“…I feel like everyone not only has different hair textures, but [different ways] they like to wear their hair. Whenever I'm [competing], I know my hair is crazy. My gymnastics: clean, hair: messy. [Even if] my hair is all over the place, I'm still performing because that's not what I'm worried about when I'm on a world stage. And if you don't like it, you don't like it.”

Biles stated it’s OK for hair to be messy, especially an athlete’s. She also admitted to People.com that it’s especially discouraging that it’s often Black people who comment on her hair the most.

“We know how hard and how annoying and irritating that is, so why would you go and comment on another girl? It's beyond me, but it doesn't really bother me like it did whenever I was younger because I know when I need to pop out and look right, then I'm going to look right.”