Gymnastics star Gabby Douglas slammed fellow Olympian Aly Raisman on Friday for dressing in a “provocative/sexual way” after Raisman accused her former gymnastics team doctor of sexual assault.
Douglas responded to a tweet from Raisman that detailed the victim shaming she has recently received after launching the allegations because she had once done a “sexy photoshoot.”
“Just to be clear,” Raisman posted on Friday. “Just because a woman does a sexy photoshoot or wears a sexy outfit does not give a man the right to shame her or not believe her when she comes forward about sexual abuse.”
USA Gymnastics has been reeling since team doctor Larry Nassar was charged a year ago with sexual assault, prompting more than 130 gymnasts to come forward to accuse the doctor.
Raisman added her name to the list of victims this past Sunday night in an interview with “60 Minutes.”
But Douglas – a teammate of Raisman on the 2012 “Fierce Five” and 2016 “Final Five” squads – took issue with Raisman’s anti-victim-blaming stance
“It is our responsibility as women to dress modestly and be classy,” Douglas wrote in a tweet that has since been deleted. “Dressing in a provocative/sexual way entices the wrong crowd.”
After Douglas’ misguided missive about dresses provocatively, teammate Simone Biles rushed to Raisman’s defense.
“Honestly seeing this brings me to tears bc as your teammate I expected more from you & to support her. I support you Aly & all the other women out there,” Biles wrote.
Biles hinted that Douglas hasn’t been a good teammate in the past, tweeting that the attack on Raisman, “shocks me that I’m seeing this but it doesn’t surprise me.”
Douglas later attempted to backtrack on her remarks.
“I didn’t correctly word my reply & i am deeply sorry for coming off like i don’t stand alongside my teammates,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Regardless of what you wear, abuse under any circumstance is never acceptable. i am WITH you. #metoo ”
Raisman and Biles are among the most decorated gymnasts in American history.
Biles won four gold medals at the 2016 games in Rio. Raisman has three golds, two silvers and a bronze from her two Olympic appearances.
Douglas has struck gold twice, once each in 2012 and 2016
The 54-year-old Nassar remains in jail and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday – when he’s expected to plead guilty to charges, the Lansing Journal has reported.
Nassar faces life in prison on sex assault charges from Ingham and Eaton Counties. He’s already pleaded guilty to federal child porn charges.