Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

JD Vance's Resurfaced Comments About Simone Biles 'Quitting' In Tokyo Did Not Age Well

Senator JD Vance and Simone Biles
X.com/American Bridge

A clip of Trump's running mate criticizing Biles on Fox News for withdrawing from competition at the Tokyo Olympics resurfaced after Biles' incredible comeback in Paris.

Former President Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance is facing more criticism after a video of him criticizing Olympic gymnast Simone Biles on Fox News for withdrawing from competition at the Tokyo Olympics resurfaced after her incredible comeback in Paris.

Biles shocked fans worldwide when she withdrew from five event finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were held in the summer of 2021. She eventually made a comeback to earn bronze on the balance beam, marking her 32nd medal across the Olympics and World Championships. Afterward, she stepped away from competitive gymnastics.


Biles decided not to compete in the team final in Tokyo due to the “twisties,” a mental block causing gymnasts to lose their sense of position midair. USA Gymnastics later announced her withdrawal from the individual all-around final to prioritize her mental health, as well as from the vault, floor, and uneven bars finals.

The world's most decorated gymnast has won four medals since returning to the Olympics stage in Paris—three gold and one silver—and delighted fans around the world.

But those wondering what Vance thought of Biles when she left Tokyo shouldn't be surprised that he lashed out at her during his 2021 Fox News appearance, which you can see below.

At the time, host Harris Faulkner asked Vance the following pointed question about Biles:

"Did she let down the country, do you think?"

To that, Vance replied:

Well, obviously I think it's understandable that she was going through an incredible amount of pressure. What I find so weird about this—and this reflects more on the media than on Simone Biles—is that we've tried to turn a very tragic moment, Simone Biles quitting the Olympic team, into this act of heroism."
"I think it reflects pretty poorly on our sort of therapeutic society that we try to praise people not for moments of strength, not for moments of heroism, but for their weakest moments. And look, being an athlete is tough. Being an athlete at that level is incredibly tough."
"A normal response to this moment would be to say it's just a shame that she's going through this, it's a shame that she quit."
"But instead, what our press has done I think is turn this into this weird therapeutic moment, and I think that's where the problem here lies."

Vance was swiftly criticized.



Remarking on Biles' performance during the Paris finale, Washington Post reporter Emily Giambalvo said Biles "had to overcome disappointment, then reminded the world she is human — incredible but not invincible."

She added:

"Two hours after missing out on a beam medal, Biles ended her competition with an imperfect performance on floor, but she did it on her own terms. After two powerful tumbling passes, she stepped out of bounds, costing her the gold medal. She finished these Games on the second-place podium but already had earned three other medals here, all gold."

Speaking to reporters after admitting to being fatigued, Biles said she is "not very upset or anything about my performance at the Olympics," adding that she is "actually very happy, proud and even more excited that it’s over — the stress of it.”

We'd like to see Vance try to do the same—in between complaining about "childless cat ladies," of course.

More from News/2024-election

Matt Choi
@mattchoi_6/Instagram

Influencer Apologizes After Lifetime Ban From NYC Marathon For Unauthorized Camera Crew

Many popular social media influencers perform impressive but dangerous athletic stunts in public at their own risk and at the risk of those around them, all for the sake of social media clout.

Some influencers get away with it while others suffer consequences, leaving them to wonder afterward if their stunt was worth pursuing in the first place.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Donald Trump Jr
Fox NewsS

Don Jr. Reveals Alarmingly Telling Criteria For Trump's Cabinet Picks—And We're So Doomed

Donald Trump Jr. was criticized after he told Fox News what criteria he has for his father's Cabinet picks—revealing that in a second Trump administration, loyalty is the name of the game.

That's very on brand for Donald Trump, whose own vice president-elect, J.D. Vance, has previously shared information about the Trump campaign's vetting processes—which includes asking people, with no sense of irony, if they've committed crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris; Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton
Saturday Night Live/NBC

'SNL' Fans Are Very Divided Over What Maya Rudolph Should Do This Week After Election Loss

Tuesday's election results have a sickening feeling of déjà vu, and with Saturday fast approaching, many are wondering how Saturday Night Live will handle the election results.

For some, the show's approach to Hillary Clinton's loss in 2016 is top of mind. That Saturday night, former castmember Kate McKinnon, who'd played Clinton throughout the election cycle, appeared in the show's cold open to play and sing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

Keep ReadingShow less
people riding a roller coaster
Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fernández on Unsplash

People Confess Which Things They'd Love To Do Again For The Very First Time

They say you never forget your first time, but that's not really true of everything in life.

Like, I really enjoy pizza, but I've been eating it all my life. I don’t recall the first time. But I introduced my high school best friend to pizza when we were 14. He—now a certified pizzaholic—vividly remembers his first pizza experience.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Patrick Harvie and John Swinney
The National

Member Of Scotland's Parliament Brutally Calls Out Nation's Leader For Letter To Trump After Election

Patrick Harvie, a Member of Scottish Parliament who represents the Green Party, called out Scotland's First Minister John Swinney over a congratulatory letter he wrote to Donald Trump after Trump became the U.S. president-elect.

During a session of Parliament, Harvie called out Swinney directly over the deferential letter Swinney sent to Trump.

Keep ReadingShow less