Simone Biles Claps Back Amid Fan Backlash for Interaction With Gymnastics Judge

While Simone Biles prepares to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she’s also dealing with some serious fan backlash following a comment made to an FIG (International Federation of Gymnastics) judge on X.

Emily Chan, who posts on social media with the handle @flipflytumble, criticized Biles’ floor routine song selection at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials. The nine-time national champion tumbles to Taylor Swift’s, “Ready for It?” which includes a snippet of “Delresto (Echoes)” by Travis Scott and Beyonce.

Chan posted, “Pains me to say that Simone has the worst floor music.” Chan, who became the youngest FIG judge at age 17, as stated in a 2021 Medium interview, and is a former gymnast herself, received a personal response from Biles.

NOOONE CAREEESSSSSSSSSSSS,” Biles posted, a response which quickly went viral. Chan’s original post disappeared as she deleted her account following the backlash she received. Numerous users online defended Chan, as she also regularly posted positive things about Biles. Others defended Biles, as they love her musical choic

The drama picked up again on July 5 after fans realized that Chan’s X account was deactivated.

One fan posted, “Wtf just happened with Emily?! I just hope Simone flops hard now because her fans are insufferable and know no limits. Cancelling her for saying the truth was already bad, but going after HER JUDGE LICENSE?? Her chorey and artistry are atrocious! Everyone can see it LMAO.”

Biles clapped back on July 6, “I was literally being funny & you’re just hateful. & if we as athletes come across a tweet that mentions us, we are allowed to respond. point blank.”

Former Olympic gymnast and gold medalist Dominique Moceanu defended Biles. “but the notion ‘you’re an Olympian, you should take the high road’ has become such a tired cliché,” Moceanu commented. “It’s a curious contradiction that the liberties of expression are celebrated for some, yet selectively denied to others.”

While some fans supported Biles speaking up, others still want the three-time Olympian to apologize