RINGS OF TURMOIL SEE SPORTS
Gabby Douglas isn’t taking the side of her teammate, Aly Raisman.
On Friday, Douglas took to Twitter to share her thoughts on Raisman’s claims that she was sexually abused by former U.S. gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, and her opinion was shocking to some.
“It is our responsibility as women to dress modestly and be classy,” Douglas wrote, while quote tweeting Raisman’s post from earlier in the day about victim shaming. “Dressing in a provocative/sexual way entices the wrong crowd.”
Fellow Olympic star and gymnast Simone Biles immediately came to Raisman’s defense.
“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,” she wrote to express her disgust at Douglas’ words. “I support you Aly & all the other women out there! STAY STRONG.”
Douglas later backtracked, saying she “didn’t correctly word” her reply to Raisman.
“I am deeply sorry for coming off like I don’t stand alongside my teammates,” she wrote. “Regardless of what you wear, abuse under any circumstance is never acceptable. I am WITH you. #metoo”
Earlier this month, Raisman became the second member of America’s 2012 Olympic gold medal gymnastics squad to accuse Nassar of sexual abuse.
She was 15 when Nassar first started treating her.
“I am angry. I’m really upset,” Raisman said in an interview with “60 Minutes.” “I see these young girls that come up to me, and they ask for pictures or autographs, whatever it is. … I just want to create change so that they never, ever have to go through this.”
Nassar, 53, is currently in jail awaiting sentencing in Michigan as he prepares for trial in December over charges that he sexually assaulted nine girls.