Fans are less than thrilled with Gabby Douglas after the Olympic Gold Medal gymnast posted a tweet that many perceived to be victim-shaming, telling women that it is their, “responsibly to dress modestly and be classy.”
According to the Huffington Post, Douglas’s tweet was in response to a post made by her 2012 Olympic teammate Aly Raisman, in which she stood up for sexual assault victims that are blamed for what happened to them because of what they were wearing.
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
“Just to be clear… Just because a woman does a sexy photoshoot or wears a sexy outfit does not give a man the right to shame her or not believe her when she comes forward about sexual abuse,” Raisman’s post read. “What is wrong with some of you? AND when a woman dresses sexy it does not give a man the right to sexually abuse her EVER.”
Amongst an outpouring of support for Raisman, who revealed earlier this month that she was one of the gymnasts sexually assaulted by USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, Douglas’s response was not a good look.
“However, it is our responsibly to dress modestly and be classy,” Douglass tweeted. “Dressing in a provocative/sexual way entices the wrong crowd.”
Douglas has since deleted her controversial tweet after it received plenty of backlash, including from 2016 Olympic medalist Simone Biles, who rushed to defend Raisman, saying she “expected more” from Douglas.
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!
STAY STRONG pic.twitter.com/CccTzhyPcb— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) November 17, 2017
On Friday evening, Douglas took to Twitter to apologize for her earlier comments. “i didn’t correctly word my reply & i am deeply sorry for coming off like i don’t stand alongside my teammates,” she clarified. “regardless of what you wear, abuse under any circumstance is never acceptable. i am WITH you. #metoo”
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
Raisman is one of over 100 female gymnasts, including “Fierce Five” gymnast McKayla Maroney, that have accused Nassar of sexual abuse that likely took place for decades. The controversy between the former Team USA gymnasts also follows weeks of sexual assault and harassment allegations against multiple powerful men including comedian Louis C.K, Senator Al Franken and Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.