Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas has apologized for appearing to shame her teammate Aly Raisman by urging her to ‘dress modestly’.
Douglas, 21, took to Twitter on Friday to share her controversial view, in response to Raisman’s claims that she was sexually abused by former US gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar.
She was responding to a lengthy post by 23-year-old teammate Raisman earlier in the day, which read in part: ‘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.’
Douglas responded: ‘However it is our responsibility as women to dress modestly and be classy. Dressing in a provocative/sexual way entices the wrong crowd.’
Gabby Douglas, 21, (left) took to Twitter on Friday to share her controversial view, in response to Aly Raisman’s (right) claims that she was sexually abused by the former team doctor
Raisman’s comment on ‘victim shaming’ is seen left and Douglas’ controversial reply right
The remark urging modesty drew instant backlash, including from fellow US gymnast Simone Biles.
‘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,’ wrote Biles.
Douglas deleted the offending tweet and quickly sent out an apology: ‘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’
The Twitter spat comes days after news that Dr Nassar was expecting to change his not-guilty plea in a bid to close the state’s criminal cases against him after being accused of molesting girls under the guise of medical treatment at his home, a campus clinic and a youth gymnastics club.
In her book Fierce, Raisman writes that the abuse all began when she was 15 and practicing through her pain in Australia ahead of a meet.
Another teammate, Simone Biles, was quick to criticize Douglas’ remarks on Twitter
Biles (right) stuck up for her friend and teammate Raisman (left). The two are seen together at the 2017 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards in June
Raisman (above competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics) has spoken in the past of being abused by the Team USA doctor
Raisman won Gold at the 2012 London Olympics (above)
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,’ writes Raisman.
In her book Fierce, that came out on Tuesday, the Olympic gold medalist details sexual assault allegations against Dr Larry Nassar
She 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,’ states Raisman.
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, who is the most high profile victim to emerge, has said that she will not go into specific detail about Nassar’s alleged abuse.
She also claimed that USA Gymnastics stopped her from speaking with the FBI after she tried to seek out the female agent she first spoke with about Nassar – before she realized she was being abused by the doctor.
Dr. Larry Raisman, the former Team USA coach, is facing sexual abuse charges in Michigan. He is pictured in February this year during a court hearing
Raisman, circled bottom left, says she is one of several victims of Dr. Larry Nassar, the former Team USA doctor, circled top right. They are seen together at the 2012 Olympics
After her initial interview, Raisman came to realize she herself was a victim, and tried to speak again with that agent.
That is when USA Gymnastics stepped in she claims, and stopped her outreach.
‘Shortly after she left, it hit me. And I reached back out to an official with USA Gymnastics and I said, “I have to speak to her again. I was making excuses for him and it’s not right,’ Raisman said on Monday while appearing on Megyn Kelly Today.
‘I was not given a courtesy of speaking with her. And was told to just mind your own business.’
Dr. Nassar denies the allegations of all his accusers.
‘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, 23, added in the post
He is currently behind bars in a Michigan prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography in July.
Authorities revealed back in December of last year that they had discovered over 37,000 images and videos of child pornography featuring girls as young as six and a Go Pro video of Nassar molesting a group of young girls in a pool.
Over 130 women have come forward to accuse Nassar, including Raisman’s Olympic teammate McKayla Maroney.
Many of these women, including Raisman and Maroney, claim they were underage at the time of their first alleged assault.