Aly Raisman’s mother, Lynn, has scathing words for anyone who supports predators like Larry Nassar after the former USA Gymnastics team doctor pleaded guilty to additional counts of criminal sexual conduct.
The mother-of-one took to Twitter on Thursday morning to hit back at people who have offered their sympathies for Nassar, who admitted to assaulting girls under the guise of medical treatment.
Raisman, 23, detailed the alleged assaults that she endured for years while being treated by Nassar in her new book Fierce, and today Lynn tweeted that she is ‘confused by those who feel bad or offer support for a predator.’
Hitting back: Aly Raisman’s mother, Lynn, has slammed anyone who supports predators like Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor who pleaded guilty to sexual assault
‘Stop Abuse’: Lynn tweeted on Thursday morning to stress that a ‘good work ethic or friendly demeanor does not excuse predatory behavior’
Using her platform: Raisman responded to her mother’s tweet by stressing that ‘abuse is never ever OK’
‘Predators thrive by calculating who they should show kindness to vs who they can assault and abuse,’ the mom added. ‘Understand that a good work ethic or friendly demeanor does not excuse predatory behavior.’
Raisman responded to her mother’s tweet by stressing that ‘abuse is never ever OK.’
‘We must stop protecting the abusers,’ she continued. ‘Please stop victim shaming and offer support to those who were/are being hurt. Why are some so quick to support the monsters? #STOPVictimShaming #STOPAbuse.’
In a stream of tweets, the Olympic gymnast added: ‘To all the survivors out there…. Your story matters….. I hope each and every single one of you out there know that…. I hope you know you deserve to feel heard & deserve to be safe. I SUPPORT YOU.’
‘I can’t tell you how many have told me that their child was being abused by their mom or dad, aunt or uncle, guardian, family member, etc. I am sick over it,’ she tweeted. ‘Adults please talk to kids out there & SUPPORT. (Don’t look the other way) Make sure they feel safe & no 1 is hurting them.’
In her book, Raisman wrote that Nassar’s alleged assaults all began when she was 15 and practicing through her pain in Australia ahead of a meet.
Sharing her story: Raisman, 23, detailed the alleged assaults that she endured for years while being treated by Nassar in her new book Fierce
Abuse of power: Raisman wrote that Nassar’s alleged assaults all began when she was 15 and practicing through the pain. She is pictured competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio
‘Your story matters’: Raisman shared her support for all the survivors of sexual assault on Twitter on Thursday
A USA Gymnastics official suggested that she get treated by Dr. Nassar, saying that the registered osteopath who was a volunteer with the organization could help her sore heels and back pain.
‘I didn’t want to be labeled as uncooperative, so finally I said okay,’ she recalled.
Raisman immediately realized something was different than her previous treatments, but said nothing at the time.
‘There was something about the massage that made me uncomfortable, but the staff member’s words stuck in my head,’ Raisman stated.
This is the same story many of Nassar’s accusers have told, alleging that he would digitally penetrate them anally and vaginally with ungloved hands under the guise of treatment.
Raisman wrote that she was told it was an ‘honor’ to be treated by Dr. Nassar, and for that reason she stayed silent.
Survivor: Raisman, who is the most high profile victim to emerge, has said that she will not go into specific detail about Nassar’s alleged abuse
Plea: Larry Nassar (flanked by his attorneys) pleaded guilty to three felony counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct on Wednesday in a Michigan court
‘That’s probably why I didn’t question why Larry would sometimes close his eyes or seem out of breath when he worked on me,’ she said.
‘I felt guilty for thinking badly of someone everyone else liked.’
Raisman, who is the most high profile victim to emerge, has said that she will not go into specific detail about Nassar’s alleged abuse.
Nassar pleaded guilty in a Michigan court on Wednesday to additional counts of criminal sexual conduct for assaulting girls under the guise of medical treatment, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said.
The 54-year-old appeared in Michigan’s Eaton County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to three felony counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct.
He did not make a statement beyond briefly answering the judge’s questions, according to The Detroit News.
Guilty: Nassar (pictured during plea hearing on November 22) admitted to digitally penetrating three girls, one of whom was younger than 13 and two of whom were between 13 and 15
Nassar’s attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He admitted that he digitally penetrated three girls and told them it was part of their medical treatment. One girl was younger than 13 and two were between the ages of 13 and 15 when the assaults occurred between 2009 and 2011.
Nassar was the team physician for the Michigan State University gymnastics and women’s crew teams, as well as an associate professor at MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.
He served as the USA Gymnastics physician through four Olympic Games.
Last week, Nassar pleaded guilty in nearby Ingham County to seven felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct despite his earlier denials of wrongdoing.
Wednesday’s guilty pleas put an end to criminal sexual conduct charges brought by the Michigan Attorney General’s office against Nassar in Eaton and Ingham counties.
Olympic gold medalist: USA gymnast Gabby Douglas said she suffered abuse at the hands of Nassar
Stories of abuse: McKayla Maroney, another Olympic gymnast, also said she was abused
The Eaton County sentencing hearing will be held on January 31.
The Ingham County sentencing hearing will be held on January 12 when all of the 125 reported victims or their parents will be allowed to give victim impact statements.
He also faces child pornography charges and will be sentenced for those alleged crimes on December 7.
Last week’s plea deal with prosecutors calls for a minimum prison sentence of 25 years, but the judge could set the minimum as high as 40 years.
Nassar’s plea deal follows claims by two of the United States’ most decorated gymnasts, Raisman and Gabby Douglas, that they had been sexually abused by the former USA Gymnastics team doctor. McKayla Maroney, another Olympic gymnast, has also publicly said that Nassar abused her.
Earlier this month, Douglas, a three-times Olympic gold medalist, said she was sexually abused by Nassar while Raisman, also a three-times gold medalist, made similar allegations in an interview with CBS News program ’60 Minutes.’
During the November 22 hearing, Nassar apologized and said it was time for his victims to begin healing, The Detroit News reported.