Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, has been making headlines for her extraordinary performances at the Olympics. However, rather than celebrating her achievements, some people have chosen to criticize her hair. Biles did not hold back in responding to these criticisms.
Simone Biles’s Blunt Response to Hair Criticism at the Olympics
Gymnasts typically style their hair to keep it away from their faces, allowing them to concentrate on their routines. Despite Biles’s incredible talent and success, social media was flooded with harsh comments about her hair, with some calling it messy or unkempt.
In response, Biles took to social media to address her critics. She shared a photo of herself with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, captioned with a statement that silenced the negative comments. Biles confidently wrote, “Don’t come for me about my hair. It was done, but the bus has no AC, and it’s like 9,000 degrees. Oh, and a 45-minute ride.”
In another image, she is shown fanning her face due to the heat, adding, “Next time you wanna comment on a Black girl’s hair, JUST DON’T.”
Biles has been open about her hair journey and the expectations placed on her as a gymnast. In an interview with Elle, she credited social media with inspiring Black women to take better care of their hair and beauty routines. She mentioned that she used to worry about how her hair would be perceived in terms of professionalism, but now she no longer feels embarrassed by it.
Unsurprisingly, many loyal fans came to Biles’s defense after the criticism she received. One fan wrote, “Imagine being the kind of person who watches Simone Biles perform moves that no one else can do, twirl in the air multiple times and land on her two feet… only to comment on her hair! Imagine having that mentality?” Another commented, “Simone Biles is out here making history, and people are worried about her hair. We really are cooked as a society.”
Simone Biles is not only an extraordinary athlete but also a role model for her resilience and ability to stand up against unnecessary criticism. Her message is clear: focus on her incredible athletic abilities, not her hair.