Legal activist Riley Gaines has leveled a new attack on Simone Biles and it was quite the ‘unnecessary Jab’, an expert who specializes in trauma and coping skills.
On Sunday, Gaines Retweet a screenshot From the personal account of Biles on X, formerly Twitter, which showed that it was no longer active. The first collegial swimmer Start the new development to mock Biles, the most decorated turn of all time, and suggests that she must have deactivated her account earlier this month because of their online dispute.
Gaines wrote that Biles had an “incredibly unpopular and morally indefensible take” and became “rightly ridiculous”. She then stuck that Biles had apologized after receiving “relentless return” and claimed that the gold medal winner closed her X account “to pretend that it never happened.”
“Sad to see such a phenomenon falling,” Gaines wrote in the post.
The other social media accounts from Biles remain active and she has not released a public explanation about why her X account seems to be deactivated from Monday. The representatives of the gymnast did not immediately return Huffpost’s request for comments.
Gaines and Biles who was previously involved in a back and forth on X, after Biles criticized the right -wing activist for the public bullying of a teenager softball player who is transgender. The Gymnastics star told Gaines the moment she “pops up the trans -community” and tries to make sport more inclusive.
“Bullying someone of your own size, which ironically would be a man,” Biles written In another message.
Gaines, for her side, referred to The sexual abuse of the gymnast against the shame doctor and convicted sex offender Larry Nassar.
“All horrible sexual abuse [Biles] Witness and pronounced against the caused by one man, but still believes that women should be forced to strip naked for men to validate the man’s feelings, “Gaines wrote.” Do you know how many gold medals you would have if your ‘inclusive’ dream came true? Zero.”
Since then, Biles has apologized for personally obtaining her online collision with Gaines, who has not delivered public apologies.
The Olympian has since received a wave of right -wing attacks on social media and from prominent conservative experts. Fox News – Gastheer Jesse Waters shared his two cents over the dispute and called Biles “mentally weak” in a segment on “the five” – ​​a excavation that refers to her publicly discuss Challenges she has had with her mental and physical well -being.
Emma Mcintyre via Getty Images
And Gaines has not released much either. On June 14, she took a shot at Biles while announcing an event organized by conservative non -profit turning point USA that she and husband Louis Barker expect a child.
‘[Biles] Say: “bullying someone from your own size, who ironically would be a man” … how many men do you know who have this? GAINES told the crowd While she rocks her belly and holds up a series of sonograms.
Monica CwynarA recognized clinical social worker with ThriveWorks that specializes in trauma and coping skills, said that Gaines’ newest attack on Biles that would close her X account “seemed to be a” unnecessary puncture “at Biles op Biles at a” vulnerable moment “.
“It feels like you get on when a person is already down. What does Gaines want to mention this, except trying to draw more negative attention to Biles?” She told Huffpost.
And although Biles has not released an explanation about why her X account is not currently active, Cwynar said that, given the early struggles of Biles with mental health, Gaines ‘behavior’ could indeed worsen the situation, which may cause further damage to the mental well-being of Biles. ‘
Gaines’ Actions After the apology of Biles, set a ‘bad example’.
“Gaines and Biles both became personally online in their recent public dispute, but Biles apologized and Gaines did not,” said Cwynar. “Responses to apologies such as the newest tweet from Gaines about Biles who has her account deactivation given a bad example and can discourage people from apologizing when it makes sense to their own lives.”
Cwynar emphasized that apologizing “requires courage”, and that when people are met with continuous attacks after publishing an apology, “sends a message that is received vulnerability with contempt.”
This can lead to people thinking twice about owning their mistakes or to express regret, she said.
“It also shows that Mrs. Biles was reflective and was able to think about her comments, while Gaine wants to continue the fight,” said Cwynar, adding that the actions of Gaines show that she did not come to the pure why the leveling of personal attacks that “get under the belt” is not productive.
It is important to remember that online bullying can have “devastating effects on everyone, regardless of their public status,” Cwynar noted later.
“It can lead to anxiety, depression and a deep sense of isolation. For someone like Biles, who is in the spotlight, those effects can be increased,” she said.
Taking a break on social media can be a “healthy” choice for some people, Cwynar said.
In general, Cwynar said that deactivating social media accounts can be a “healthy way to manage someone’s mental health” after a form of online intimidation.
“By taking a break of negativity, individuals can regroup, reflect and cure without the constant inflow of harmful messages,” she said. “It is a proactive step in prioritizing mental well -being and can offer much needed space to regain control of the emotional state.”
Cwynar noted that although social media can offer many positive benefits, research has suggested that it can have a “harmful impact About self -confidence and self -respect. “
“We have to be nice to each other and be open to different opinions, but not resort to insults,” she said. “Gaines is also entitled to her voice, but harassing an individual is not necessary.”
