Gabby Douglas Blasted Over Victim-Blaming Tweet

The gymnast has apologized after suggesting women should "dress modestly and be classy" to avoid sexual assault.

Gabby Douglas
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Gabby Douglas

Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas faced major backlash this week, after posting a now-deleted tweet many interpreted as victim shaming. The post was in response to a powerful message by fellow Fab Five member Aly Raisman, who recently accused a former USA Gymnastics doctor of sexual assaulting her.

Some wrote off Raisman’s allegations, suggesting she brought the abuse upon herself because she chose to pose nude for ESPN’s 2015 Body Issue. The gymnast responded to this idiotic notion on Twitter:

“Just because a woman does a sexy photo shoot or wears a sexy outfit does not give a man the right to shame her or not believer her when she comes forward about sexual abuse,” she wrote. “When a woman dresses sexy it does not give a man the right to sexually abuse her EVER […] I will not put up with any woman or girl being shamed for wanting to wear a skirt, dress, etc. […] STOP VICTOM SHAMING. It is because of you that so many survivors live in fear.”

Douglas, who was on the 2012 and 2016 USA Gymnastics team with Raisman, seemed to disagree.

“[H]owever, it is our responsibility as women to dress modestly and be classy,” she responded on Twitter. “[D]ressing in a provocative/sexual way entices the wrong crowd.”

Unsurprisingly, the response didn’t go over too well.

Fellow Team U.S.A. gymnast Simone Biles also expressed her disappointment in Douglas.

Douglas has since apologized for the statement.

During a recent appearance on 60 Minutes Raisman alleged she was sexually abused by Dr. Larry Nassar under his care.

“I was in denial,” she said during the interview. “You don't want to let yourself believe, but you know, I am a victim of sexual abuse. Like, it's really not an easy thing to let yourself believe that.”

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