Gabby Douglas Responds to Criticism

Olympic all-around gold medalist Gabby Douglas recently became a three-time gold medalist as a member of the champion U.S. women’s team in Rio. But despite her victories, Douglas has been the subject of a ton of social media criticism during the games. People have criticized her for her hair, called her a “sorry American” for not placing her hand on her heart during the national anthem, and nicknamed her “Crabby Gabby” for her perceived lack of enthusiasm for her teammates. On Sunday, Douglas finished seventh in the uneven bars final, her last event for these games. After it was over, Douglas teared up when speaking about how she had been treated, according to multiple reports.The 20-year-old’s old’s eyes welled with tears as she explained she has tried to ignore the criticism, but couldn’t.

Douglas also seemed upset by the implication she wasn’t supporting her teammates Aly Raisman and Simone Biles during the all-around final. After speaking to reporters, Douglas went to a corner and had a “good long cry.

“Either it was about my hair or my hand not over my heart on the medal podium or I look depressed. … It was hurtful. It’s been kind of a lot to deal with, At first they were like, ‘Good job, you’re in the Olympics, and then they kind of turn on me. It was hurtful. It was kind of a lot to deal with and i kind of have to stay away from that … with everything I had to go  through and everything I have gone through, it’s just been a lot this time around.” I am sorry if anyone thought i didn’t respect the US on the medal stand. When I heard some of the comments, i was finally like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, that’s far from me and far from my personality at all, I’ve been through a lot. Sometimes I sit back and say, ‘Wait. What did I do to disrespect people? What have I done to disrespect the USA?”

She teared up again as she said,

“I’m sorry. I was supporting Aly, I will always support them and respect them.

I don’t want anyone to take it as jealous or I wanted attention, Never.

I support them and I’m sorry I wasn’t showing it. “Did I choose my hair texture?

No. I’m grateful for having this hair on my head.

When you read that hurtful stuff you’re like ‘OK, wow.”

She acknowledged that all of the comments have been a lot to deal with. Douglas’s mother, Natalie Hawkins, said in an interview with Reuters:  

"My daughter has had her heart broken and it has been an extremely

painful experience for both of us. We’ve been brought to many tears

because I don’t know what she’s done to warrant such an attack.

To me it looks like she is being bullied and she got trampled. What did she ever do to anyone?”

Hawkins, went ahead to defended her daughter against the hate she has received online.

"She's had to deal with people criticizing her hair, or people accusing her of bleaching her skin. They said she had breast enhancements, they said she wasn't smiling enough, she's unpatriotic,

Then it went to not supporting your teammates. Now you're ‘Crabby Gabby.' You name it and she got trampled. What did she ever do to anyone?"

Hawkins also stood up for her daughter over the controversy surrounding Douglas' hand placement during the national anthem, but Douglas responded to the "Crabby Gabby" allegations herself.