If you've been keeping up with the former American Sweetheart Gabby Douglas, you may have seen her getting dragged on Twitter recently. Just days ago, she was called out for victim blaming her former teammate Alexandra Raisman.
Since then, Douglas has backtracked and apologized saying that her comment came out wrong and included a #metoo hashtag. This hashtag, however, seems to be more than her simply stating her support. Allegedly, Douglas was also a victim at the hands of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.
ESPN reports that Douglas has become the third member of the "Fierce Five" gymnastics team to come forth with abuse allegations. She took to her Instagram page on Tuesday with a post captioned "please hear my heart," explaining her intentions and revealing her pain.
"I know that no matter what you wear, it NEVER gives anyone the right to harass or abuse you. It would be like saying that because of the leotards we wore, it was our fault that we were abused by Larry Nassar," the post reads.
"I didn't publicly share my experiences as well as many other things because for years we were conditioned to stay silent and honestly some things were extremely painful. I wholeheartedly support my teammates for coming forward with what happened to them."
Prior to Douglas and Raisman, McKayla Maroney, who won two medals at the 2012 Games as Raisman and Douglas' fellow "Fierce Five" teammate, said last month she was molested for years by Nassar.
Nassar, 54, has agreed to plead guilty to multiple charges of sexual assault and faces at least 25 years in prison. He is charged with molesting several girls while working for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University under the guise of treatment at his home and a campus clinic. All but one were gymnasts. He is also awaiting sentencing for child pornography as well as being sued by more than 125 women and girls.
While people are saying this is a publicity stunt to save face, we can't know how victims will react. This man is clearly a serial offender. What we do know is that way too many women and girls have suffered at his hands. We can only hope they are able to heal and get the peace they deserve.
