Skinner has been at the center of the viral spat with Biles after the former called out Team USA’s lack of “work ethic” before the 2024 Olympics.
Biles then seemingly shaded Skinner in a social media post after the U.S. gymnastics won gold in the team all-around event, furthering the beef by writing “Lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions,” as an Instagram caption.
Skinner did apologize before the Summer Games, but she further detailed — in a Tuesday video on Instagram — the online vitriol she’s faced in the wake of Biles’ comments, pleading with the 11-time Olympic medalist to stop her fans’ hate.
In the comments section of the video, Skinner’s husband, Jonas Harmer, came to her defense with a kind note.
Simone Biles has won three gold medals in the 2024 Olympics. Getty Images
“Proud of you for apologizing when you did, staying quiet when you did, and now standing up for yourself,” Harmer, who has competed on “American Ninja Warrior,” wrote. “You’re the strongest person I know!”
MyKayla Skinner has been at the center of Olympics discussions this summer. AP
“It’s important because you have to teach them to use their voices,” Biles told People on Tuesday. “And if not, you’re a voice for the voiceless, which is OK.
“I just felt like it was right in that moment to stand up for them, because they’re so young and they haven’t fully stood in their power yet.”
Skinner, in her video this week, asked Biles to get her supporters to stop attacking her, Harmer and their 23-month-old daughter, Charlotte Jane.
MyKayla Skinner’s husband, Jonas Harmer, defended her on Instagram. mykaylaskinner2016/Instagram
“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,” Skinner said.
“We’ve been hurt and attacked in ways that I am certain you never intended.”
Skinner, who announced in 2021 that she was retiring from gymnastics, took silver in the vault final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Meanwhile, Biles, after exiting the Olympic competition early in 2021, came back with a flourish this time, taking three gold medals and one silver.
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