Simone Biles doesn’t want birthday wishes from USA Gymnastics—she wants justice
Good morning, happy Monday, wash your hands frequently, and don’t mess with Simone Biles. On March 14th, the Olympic gold medalist celebrated her 23rd birthday with a perfect clapback to USA Gymnastics, which (tried to) wish her a happy birthday on Twitter.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most decorated gymnast of all time, @simonebiles! We know you will only continue to amaze us and make history!” USAG tweeted.
The organization tweeted at the wrong Simone Biles—let that sink in for a second—but when the intended Simone Biles found the tweet, she was not having it.
“how about you amaze me and do the right thing…have an independent investigation,” she tweeted back.
how about you amaze me and do the right thing… have an independent investigation https://t.co/58Gc9QUk76
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) March 14, 2020
Biles has been among the most outspoken critics of USAG’s handling of the Larry Nassar scandal. Nassar, a former sports physician for USAG and Michigan State University, is currently serving an effective life sentence on charges of child pornography and sexual misconduct. During his 2018 hearing, more than 150 women, including Biles, accused Nassar of sexual abuse while placed under his care.
After an 18-month investigation. a Congressional subcommittee found that the USAG, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and the FBI “fundamentally failed” to protect young gymnasts from Nassar’s abuse. The subcommittee’s report stated that these organizations “had opportunities to stop Nassar but failed to do so,” and called their actions “a cover-up.”
In 2018, USAG offered Nassar’s survivors a $215 million settlement in an attempt to exit bankruptcy. The proposed settlement drew severe criticism from Nassar’s accusers, including Biles and her Olympic teammate Aly Raisman. “Still want answers from USAG and USOPC,” Biles posted in response to the settlement plan. “Wish they BOTH wanted an independent investigation as much as the survivors and I do.”
Biles remains unrelenting in her call for justice, and so many people are supporting her in that cause. (And her takedown of USAG’s short-sighted tweet.)
Me writing in @Simone_Biles on the primary ballot. pic.twitter.com/L0XyaKhWYf
— Spanny Lee Tampson (@SpannyTampson) March 14, 2020
you >
— Peyton Mabry (@peyton_mabry) March 14, 2020
😆. …And don’t forget to tell @USAGym to make the results PUBLIC.
— Nancy Hogshead-Makar, JD, Oly (@Hogshead3Au) March 14, 2020
YES. QUEEN. pic.twitter.com/iuRuWtSIWP
— ✨𝒜𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 ✨ (@YesSheSaid_) March 14, 2020
So many reasons you are the GOAT. Strength in 100 different ways.
— Rachael Denhollander (@R_Denhollander) March 14, 2020
Simone: We believe you, we support you, we admire you, and never stop clapping back where clapbacks are due.
