Olympics. Stay woke with our briefing while staying informed on all things LGBTQ+ entertainment, life, and more!Biles’ two gold medal wins cap off an incredible three years, in which she thought she would never compete again. She withdrew from the Tokyo Games due to mental health issues, and was open about her struggles.
For most, Biles’ candor was inspiring, and the ultimate sign of strength. She walked away from competitive gymnastics for two years before returning to the mat in 2023. “I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being,” she said at the time, per CNN.
“It just sucks when you’re fighting with your own head.”Vance, however, wasn’t moved. The Hillbilly Elegy author questioned the support she was receiving in a 2021 interview with Fox News. “What I find so weird about this, and it reflects on the media more than it does on Simone Biles, is that we’ve tried to turn a very tragic moment—Simone Biles quitting the Olympic team—into this act of heroism,” he said at the time.
“And I think it reflects pretty poorly on our sort of therapeutic society that we try to praise people not for moments of strength, not for moments of heroism, but for their weakest moments,” he continued. Vance’s cruel comments were first uncovered by American Bridge 21st Century, a Democratic super PAC. The video has been viewed millions of times.
WATCH: JD Vance go after GOAT Simone Biles after she withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo #Olympics
"I think it reflects pretty poorly on our sort of therapeutic society that we try to praise people, not for moments of strength… but for their weakest moments." pic.twitter.com/xLVBer5TyjWould love to see JD Vance attempt a simple somersault https://t.co/R96oNa4gbeVance was far from the only right-winger to disparage Biles, one of the greatest athletes in U.S. history. They belittled her, and mental health advocacy in general.
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