In the past month, two members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic gold-medal winning gymnastics team have come forward to say they were sexually assaulted by a former team doctor. But on Friday, another member of that squad appeared to victim-blame in a tweet.
McKayla Maroney wrote last month that she had been molested for years by Dr. Larry Nassar, who is currently being sued by more than 130 women. Last week, Aly Raisman, a three-time gold medalist, said Nassar had assaulted her too and declared, “I’m really upset … I care a lot when I see these young girls that come up to me, and they ask for pictures or autographs, whatever it is, I just … I can’t … every time I look at them, every time I see them smiling, I just think I just want to create change so that they never, ever have to go through this.”
On Friday, though, Gabby Douglas, who won gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, tweeted that it was “our responsibility as women to dress modestly and be classy.” Her tweet has been deleted, but her former 2016 teammate, Simone Biles, almost immediately pushed back on the notion.
Douglas was responding to this tweet from Raisman on Friday morning.
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
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!
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) November 17, 2017
STAY STRONG pic.twitter.com/CccTzhyPcb
That led to Douglas apologizing for the initial tweet and clarifying her comment.
i didn’t correctly word my reply & i am deeply sorry for coming off like i don’t stand alongside my teammates. regardless of what you wear, abuse under any circumstance is never acceptable. i am WITH you. #metoo
— Gabby Douglas (@gabrielledoug) November 18, 2017
Nassar has already pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges, and he will be sentenced next month.