Celebrities and Athletes Weigh In on the Simone Biles and Riley Gaines Controversy

A heated online discussion regarding the participation of trans athletes in sports has emerged between Simone Biles and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, generating reactions from various sectors of the sports community.

The exchange began on Friday, June 6, when Gaines, 25, claimed that a Minnesota high school softball team secured the state championship because their “star player is a boy.”

Biles, 28, replied, stating, “You’re genuinely unwell, all this campaigning because you lost a race. Purely a sore loser. You ought to be uplifting the trans community, perhaps finding ways to make sports inclusive OR creating a safe space for trans individuals in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!! Instead… You choose to bully them… One thing is certain: no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!”

Gaines, who currently works with Outkick, has become a vocal opponent of trans women competing in women’s sports. In 2022, during her time at the University of Kentucky, Gaines tied for fifth place in a race that featured Lia Thomas, the first openly trans woman in the NCAA women’s division.

Tensions heightened on Friday when Gaines likened trans athletes to the abuse perpetrated by former Team USA doctor and convicted child predator Larry Nassar.

In 2016, Nassar was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography, for which he pleaded guilty and received a 60-year sentence. He was also charged with various counts of criminal sexual misconduct involving minors, to which he admitted guilt, resulting in a prison sentence of 40 to 175 years.

Over 60 women provided victim impact statements, and more than 260 accused Nassar of sexual misconduct. Biles came forward as one of Nassar’s victims in 2018.

In 2021, Biles testified before the U.S. Senate, alleging the FBI mishandled the investigation into Nassar, which enabled the abuse to persist.

Gaines shared a video of Biles’ testimony on X, writing: “Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man Vs Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men,” trying to associate Nassar’s abuse with young athletes sharing a space with a trans person.

Biles issued an apology on Tuesday, June 10, stating she regretted personalizing the conflict with Gaines. (In a post on X, Biles challenged Gaines to “bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”)

“I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both vital in sports,” Biles conveyed. “The current system does not properly balance these essential principles, leading to frustration and arguments, and I acknowledge I should not have made it personal with Riley, for which I apologize.”

She continued, “These are delicate, complex issues for which I don’t hold all the answers or solutions, but I believe they commence with empathy and respect.”

Gaines quickly responded, expressing acceptance of Biles’ apology regarding the “personal attacks.”

“I know she understands what this feels like,” Gaines wrote on X. “She remains the greatest female gymnast ever. A few points: Sports are inherently inclusive. Anyone can and should engage in sports. However, competition is exclusive by definition. The notion of ‘competitive equity’ is nonsensical.”

Gaines continued, “Women’s sports cannot be utilized to justify centering the feelings and validation of men and boys. I welcome you to join the fight for fair sports and a bright future for female athletes. Little girls deserve the same opportunities to succeed that you had.”

Continue reading to discover how celebrities and sports figures have reacted to the ongoing discussion surrounding Biles and Gaines.

Stephen A. Smith

The ESPN commentator took a balanced approach to the debate, initially criticizing Gaines for referencing Biles’ history of sexual abuse.

“Respectfully, Gaines, I was with you until that last comment,” Smith, 57, remarked on his podcast, “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” on Monday, June 9. “That’s crossing the line. Discussing transgender women competing in sports is one issue. But bringing in someone like Larry Nassar — one of the most abhorrent human beings to walk this Earth who molested countless women, including Biles — is going too low; Gaines, you’ve lost all credibility.”

He added, “You could have articulated your point without resorting to that. Whatever Simone Biles said to you, her disagreements with your stance didn’t justify going down that road. I hope you’re not implying it’s acceptable for her to experience abuse. So why make such a claim? It’s simply callous.”

Nonetheless, Smith acknowledged his alignment with Gaines’ general argument about the inclusion of trans athletes in sports.

“Many people perceive that it undermines women’s sports when men who transition to women compete against women,” Smith asserted.

He continued, “There are many women who feel justified in their sentiments, just as Riley Gaines does and Simone Biles. Whether it’s appropriate for me or someone else to voice an opinion, that’s another matter.”

Smith invited Gaines onto his podcast on Tuesday, where he deemed her overall argument “very, very valid.”

“Firstly, [it’s] your personal experience,” Smith told Gaines. “Secondly, you’re a woman. I am not. So, when you express what’s offensive to you, one of my issues -especially with people on Capitol Hill – is when men are quick to dictate women’s experiences.”

Katie Nolan

The Emmy-winning journalist and former ESPN host criticized Gaines’ “irrational” viewpoint on the June 10 episode of her podcast, “Casuals.”

“They believe that having a transgender athlete in a locker room would force all other girls on that team to be naked in front of them, which is such an extreme assumption,” Nolan, 38, stated. “Any argument made against trans athletes in sports often seems exaggerated.”

She continued, “Trans women are not men. That’s where the confusion lies. Men don’t frequently engage in male sports with ulterior motives. We don’t have to fabricate fantasy scenarios to portray this as an issue; reality shows us it is happening.”

Nolan criticized Gaines for “maliciously attacking a very vulnerable community.”

“I’m baffled at how you find rest at night, speaking about children in that tone,” Nolan added.

Sam Phillips

Phillips, a male gymnast at the University of Illinois, defended Biles’ prowess in his remarks supporting the 11-time Olympic medalist.

“The entire dispute between Riley and Simone is EMPTY because the basis of their argument is flawed — claiming she would lose medals to male competitors, however, she could actually OUTPERFORM many male gymnasts,” Phillips shared via X on Friday.

Phillips concluded that he had to mute responses to his post for peacefulness.

“No room for debate,” he stated. “People just want to argue and provoke violence. Goodbye.”

Jonathan Owens

Owens, Biles’ husband and a safety for the Chicago Bears, publicly supported his wife on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old shared Biles’ apology on his Instagram Story and complemented it with three white heart emojis.

Sophia Bush

The actress suggested that Gaines’ attacks on Biles stemmed from her frustration over her own athletic limitations.

“She struggles to accept that she simply wasn’t that good — would never rise to your level of greatness — making it someone else’s fault,” Bush, 42, wrote via X on Friday. “It’s straightforward. I acknowledge my limitations. But for her? Never placing better than fifth, she blames 1% of the population instead of accepting her own speed?”

Danica Patrick

The former race car driver weighed in, expressing her support for Gaines’ “common sense” approach.

“Defending the inclusion of men in women’s sports embodies the ‘woke mind virus’ — or another issue that necessitates therapy,” Patrick, 43, asserted via her Instagram Story on Friday. “Either way, it’s utterly irrational.”

Jemele Hill

The journalist responded to one of Gaines’ statements, describing Biles as “a far superior human being than you’ll ever be.”

“You are a despicable person who continues to torment a community for your own benefit,” Hill, 49, expressed via X on Sunday, June 8. “Exploiting sexual abuse allegations is abhorrent and reflects your lack of integrity and decency. I promise that one day you will need the compassion you currently lack.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).