MyKayla Skinner Accused of ‘Weaponizing White Tears’ in Call for Simone Biles to Call Off Fans’ ‘Cyberbullying’ Against Her Over Her Past Suspicious Remarks

Retired gymnast Mykayla Skinner Harmer says the backlash over her critical comments about her peers has turn out to be unbearable. And in an unexpected turn of events, she’s now asking her former teammate Simone Biles to intervene.

In an August 6 Instagram post asking for a break from online criticism, Skinner wrote, “Things have really gotten out of hand lately,” adding that she and her family and friends have been enduring “cyberbullying,” including “disgusting” threats of physical violence and death.

“Enough is enough… I take 100% responsibility for the poor wording of what I wanted to say,” she said. Biles and her U.S. teammates Jordan Chiles, Sunni Lee, Hezly Rivera and Jade Carey are coming off a winning streak on the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Columbus, Ohio, native became the nation’s most decorated Olympic gymnast, adding 4 medals — three gold and one silver — to her collection, bringing her total to 11.

When the collective won top honors for their floor routines last week, Biles marked the milestone with a carousel of photos of them celebrating. She captioned the post, “no talent, lazy, Olympic champions,” a veiled response to Skinner that fans picked up on.

Skinner’s feet, so to speak, were put to the test after a now-deleted YouTube video she posted in June went viral, in which she said, “Aside from Simone, I feel like the talent and depth isn’t what it used to be. Just notice a lot of girls don’t work as hard anymore. … Girls just don’t have the work ethic.”

The young mother last competed on the Games in 2021, when she filled in for Biles, who was unable to compete in several events because she suffers from what has been variously described as a disorienting condition referred to as “twisties.”

Skinner won her only medal – a silver – after a powerful horse show jumping.

Following her July 6 apology to X, her admission of the fallout from her remarks included reiterating that she had publicly apologized to each of the ladies, noting that Biles was the one gymnast to respond — and gracefully — and reiterating in the post that she had not intended to discredit the gymnasts together with her remarks.

Still, Skinner claimed that Biles sparked a firestorm of criticism together with her celebratory post last week. Even now, Skinner is taking responsibility for putting an end to the “hateful comments” directed at Biles. Amid the wave of criticism of Skinner last week, Biles revealed that Skinner had blocked her on social media. She was also not tagged by Skinner in the post.

“To Simone, I am asking you directly and publicly to put an end to this. Please ask your followers to stop. You have been an incredible advocate for mental health awareness, and so many people need your help right now,” Skinner said in her plea.

She continued: “We have been hurt and attacked in a way that you certainly did not intend. Your performance, the team’s performance and the Olympics in general should be a time where we support each other and lift up our country.”

Her comments were limited, leaving room only for supporters to voice their opinions. They wrote things like, “As someone who promotes how important mental health is, I was sad to see yours wasn’t taken into consideration.”

But elsewhere online, supporters of the highest Olympic athlete were quick to criticize Skinner for what many saw as an attempt to embarrass Biles and force her to defend herself.

“It is also unacceptable that she uses Simone’s mental health issues and arguments to make her feel guilty when her own comments could also affect the mental health of the rest of Team USA.” He posed one person in X

Another person wrote: “@mykaylaskinner started with Simone and now she’s on Instagram trying to weaponize White Tears, asking Simone to make people leave her alone like it’s her responsibility.”

Someone else thought this response was deserved and he wrote“YOU SAID WHAT YOU SAID, you just didn’t think a pretty blonde would get back at you for trying to dunk on a non-white girl. You deserve EVERYTHING YOU GET, and Simone doesn’t have to save you. I don’t want anything, DON’T START ANYTHING.”

Biles has previously been open about her mental health, admitting she was hesitant to seek therapy after withdrawing from several events on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Biles and her teammates have already finished their competition, but they’ll remain in Paris for the closing ceremony on Aug. 11. At 27, the gymnastics superstar is the oldest person to compete on the mat this 12 months. She has not announced any plans to retire.