Texas Deputy Attorney General Aaron Reitz sparked outrage on social media Tuesday after tweeting that Simone Biles was a “national embarrassment” after she announced her withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics.
Just a day after withdrawing from the team division, Biles, a Houston native, announced Tuesday that she would not be competing in the individual all-around final either, citing mental health reasons.
Texas Attorney General Reitz retweeted a video of 1996 gold medalist Kerri Strug, who won team USA gold with an ankle injury. Reitz tweeted, “Contrast this with our selfish, childish national embarrassment, Simone Biles.”
Contrast this with our selfish, childish national embarrassment, Simone Biles. https://t.co/IwgoPOXvrG
— Aaron Reitz (@aaron_reitz) July 27, 2021
His tweet gained significant outrage, as commenters struck back in support of Biles, and some called for him to publicly apologize for his comments.
“You seriously need to apologize publicly to her,” one user wrote. “Her health comes before competing. You clearly are heartless, but I guess I am not surprised by this.”
One Twitter user referenced the deep freeze in the state of Texas in February, in which reports state at least 150 people died. “I’m pretty sure you meant to say ERCOT instead of Simone Biles. If you could harness her energy and integrity maybe people wouldn’t have died in this state.”
Kerri Strug, who now has two children and has a master’s degree in Sociology, tweeted her support for Biles on Tuesday, saying, “Sending love to you” with a goat emoji and a heart.
Sending love to you @Simone_Biles 🐐❤️-Team UNITED States of America 🇺🇸
— Kerri Strug (@kerristrug96) July 27, 2021
Others on social media have compared Strug to Biles, but not in the way Reitz did. Both gymnasts have been celebrated for their strength and bravery on social media.
Twitter user Jamie Perkins tweeted, “In 1996 we put the gold over the health of Kerri Strug. In 2021 put the health of Simone Biles over the gold. That’s what progress looks like, not a march toward supremacy at all costs. I’m proud of our silver medalist team of first-time Olympians! Go Suni, Grace and Jordan!”
In 1996 we put the gold over the health of Kerri Strug. In 2021 put the health of #Simone Biles over the gold. That’s what progress looks like, not a march toward supremacy at all costs. I’m proud of our silver medalist team of first-time Olympians! Go Suni, Grace and Jordan!
— Jamie Perkins (@perkja) July 27, 2021
And another wrote, “Kerri Strug played through the pain and won gold. Simone Biles knew her limits, accepted them and was still there to cheer on her teammates. They’re both iconic, and they should be celebrated accordingly.”
Teammates and Olympic athletes have expressed their support for Biles. Michael Phelps, in an interview on Tuesday night, said, “The easiest way for me to say it is I think athletes, and Olympic athletes in general, we need someone who we can trust. Somebody who can let us be ourselves, listen and allow us to become vulnerable. Somebody who is not gonna come try to fix us.
“We carry a lot of things and a lot of weight on our shoulders. It’s challenging, especially when we have the lights on us and all the expectations that are being thrown on top of us.”
“It’s OK to not be OK. It’s OK to go through ups and downs and emotional roller coasters … I felt like I was carrying, as Simone (Biles) said, the weight of the world on my shoulders. It’s a tough situation,” Phelps added.
Simone Biles a Greater American then all the politicians put together with a few exceptions!!! She busted her butt for ALL of us and did a super job!!! Anyone who runs her down is a Communist/Socialist Selfish Idiot!!!!
Amen !!
Our younger generation keeps getting wimpier and wimpier. If Ms. Biles has emotional problems, perhaps she should have not signed up for the Olympics in the first place.
Sorry but I’d have done everything I could have done to represent my team. I guess thats just me.
This is what happens when you lose perspective. Maybe the entire U.S. team ought to just pack it in & come home so they’ll be safe! And politicians won’t have anything to carp on!
They suck.
I would not give you 2 cents for any black but this ag is a POS.
I was very proud of all of them. More proud than any other year. Great attitudes and sportsmanship. They don’t have to win but I do want to be proud of their behavior and I was. Anyway, I’d rather see miss biles step down than break her neck from lack of focus. She was a great humble team player for her team.
Miss biles. You have our support.
Nice to people react in oppostion to this hearless, not care about our young peo[le, useless AG.
nearly everything about a sports has become about fame, money and narcissistic people. Could care less what any of them do anymore
The big problem with Biles is she knew she was have issues but her ego was so big she continued and when didn’t do well she turned tail and ran. The sad part is that she selfishly prevented someone else from participating. No sympathy in this corner.
LISTEN UP….STORE Not YOUR TREASURES Here on EARTH but STORE THEM in HEAVEN. FOR Where YOUR HEART is…There YOUR TREASURES will Be. The HOLY BIBLE. From SamuraiQueen. 😄😄😄
I think Texas Deputy Attorney General Aaron Reitz should hide his head in embarrassment and resign from his position of Deputy Attorney. He is a unthinking, heartless, cruel piece of humanity who is a waste of oxygen. This young lady has every right to protect herself. Her mental health is more important than athletics. I’m proud of her for her courage to speak her heart and do what is most healthy for her.
should have had her head checked before the big day. Using a very poor excuse to quit just for mental health reason???
you suck it up and do the job—
instead biles bailed-
He’s not worth the time it would take to come up with a rebuttal to his nastiness
Reitz should withdraw from office for reason of his apparent mental deficiency. Biles realized that she could not help the team or the country. Reitz should realize that he has not helped the team or the country by his stupid remark. What a jackass.
Reitz should withdraw for reasons of his mental health. Biles realized that she could help neither the team nor the country. Reitz should realize that his stupid comment has not helped anything. What a jackass. He is the national embarrassment.
Aaron Reitz should read Dale Carnegie’s book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” and
discard any writings from Kamala Harris, as she garnered about One Percent of the vote, when
she had the temerity to seek the Democrat Nomination for President. She proved as popular as Covid-19.
The Texas Attorney General is way out of line making that comment about Simone! She loves and is very dedicated to gymnastics (that’s “why” she is excellent at her craft!)! Something very devastating must have happened for her to have to walk away! Where is his Compassion?
The Texas Attorney General does not know Simone’s personal life and had no right to embarrass her like he did! SHAME SHAME ON YOU TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL! One day you will seek compassion for an act you did but no one will give it to you — that’s called K A R M A!
We ( everyone ) has our up’s and down’s.
So, no one has the right to criticize a beautiful lady who has given so much over the year’s. She is so talented and awesome!!!
How embarrassing that you should judge, Aaron Reitz. As a Texan, don’t expect my vote!
My view is that if it were me, I probably wouldn’t be very motivated to compete before empty stands. Maybe, maybe not. Maybe their eye on the gold is enough motivation.
Bullshit……where is the great do or die patriotism and integrity of yesteryear…. True Grit!!!! I think this cowardice epitomises America today. So long it’s bin good to know ya!!!!
This Olympics have no credibility with stupid China there! Are you kidding China! China can play with themselves !
First of all, Reitz can shove it. I’m sure he was talking her up when she was in the limelight. But she hits a bump and he comes down on her like a ton of bricks.
Secondly, none of us can or will ever know how hard, how long she’s worked or how many sacrifices she’s made to make it to the Olympics. Every athlete has dedicated huge portions of their lives to be there.
Thirdly, it’s abundantly clear that very few of you give any credence to the importance of mental health or the devastation of mental illness. I speak from firsthand experience. So if Ms. Biles is brave enough to admit that she has a problem, with the world as her stage, and take the steps she feels are necessary for her mental well being, then I applaud her choice and her bravery. Do you honestly believe she thought she would come out of this unscathed? Do you really believe she did this to hurt her team? I don’t think she saw any other way out. I’m sure she deeply regrets her actions costing her teammate a place in the competition. That was wrong. It should have been handled differently.
She didn’t turn tail and run and she most certainly is not a coward. Think of the impact this will have on her future professional career. Duh.
And last but not least, a contribution from Mr. Andy Buckmichael:
“I would not give you 2 cents for any black…”
Kinda makes you proud to be an American now doesn’t it.
Now we know why God will be The Judge at The Final Judgment. Only He knows a person’s full life, unlike bimbos and himbos who think they know everything! I hope the Texan embarrassment apologizes to a person who was going to give it her “all,” perhaps even though she didn’t know at the beginning that something not treatable was wrong. But, I hope more than that he gets in a right relationship with The Judge before going to the land of Eternity.
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