Gabby Douglas, twenty-year-old Olympic gymnast and gold medalist, has recently taken some heat for her actions at the Rio games.
After not qualifying for the all-around final, which she had won a gold medal for at the 2012 London Olympics, many people called Douglas out for being jealous of her teammates. The accusations came from Douglas "not smiling enough" and "looking disappointed" while cheering on Simone Biles and Aly Raisman.
Fans were quick to notice her less than adequate support for her teammates and she soon became the subject of many critical internet comments, especially on Twitter. They called her "salty," "jealous," and even "Crabby Gabby."
Douglas was also accused of being unpatriotic because she kept her hands at her sides during the National Anthem while the rest of the Final Five placed their right hands over their hearts.
No stranger to being bullied online, Douglas has previously received critical comments about her hair, skin color, and body type.
Leslie Jones, Saturday Night Live cast member, started the trend "#LOVE4GABBYUSA" on Twitter as she was appalled by the online criticism. (Jones received similar racial criticism after the release ofGhostbusters.) Many other celebrities, including Gabrielle Union and Shonda Rhimes, and non-celebrities joined the trend to which Gabby thanked them for their support.
From one Gabby to another, I know. I KNOW! @gabrielledoug U are loved. U are celebrated. U are a queen & we support u! #LOVEFORGABBYUSA ❤❤❤
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) August">https://twitter.com/itsgabrielleu/status/765231316... 15, 2016
In an interview with Olympic reporters, Douglas tearfully said she was hurt by all the online hate. But she is not letting the hurtful words bring her down. She is deciding to disregard most of the comments and keep being herself.
Maybe we can chalk (hah, gymnastics pun) it up to the fact that Gabby Douglas is an emotional twenty-year-old girl who had to watch her friends compete for something she really wanted along with dealing with the emotional and physical distress of a week and a half at the Rio Olympics. Maybe Gabby isn't someone who shows her feelings on her face, but rather with her words, and we have no idea how she interacted with the rest of the Final Five when the cameras weren't rolling. Either way, a young Olympic gold medalist does not deserve to be the center of so much internet bullying.
I mean, why hate on someone who can do this?
