In a plea for support and understanding, former gymnast MyKayla Skinner has turned to Olympic champion Simone Biles to address the cyberbullying she has been facing. Following her controversial comments about the U.S. women's gymnastics team, Skinner took to social media to share a heartfelt video asking Biles to intervene and put an end to the negativity that has spiraled out of control.

Skinner expressed her disappointment in the way the situation has escalated, stating, "I sincerely hoped that this topic wouldn't need to be revisited, but unfortunately things have really gotten out of hand lately. And it's one thing to disagree with me regarding something I have said or a point I was trying to make, but it's something else entirely when that turns into cyberbullying or even worse." Skinner revealed that she has received threats of physical harm directed towards herself, her husband, and their daughter, which she finds deeply disturbing.

The controversy stemmed from Skinner's remarks about her former teammates, which were made in a YouTube video ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. While Skinner was not specifically referring to Biles, the gymnast indirectly alluded to those comments in an Instagram post celebrating the team's victory at the Paris Olympics. Biles captioned the post with the words, "Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions."

Acknowledging her responsibility for the comments, Skinner stated, "About four weeks ago, I made a comment about work ethic and what seems to be taking place with the rising generation. To be totally clear, I take 100 percent responsibility for poorly articulating the point I was trying to make, and the last thing I wanted was to cause harm or offend our U.S. Olympic team." Skinner further emphasized that she reached out to each member of the team individually to express her regret for any hurt caused.

Skinner expressed her surprise and heartfelt disappointment when Biles shared the controversial post, as she believed that Biles understood the effort she made to take accountability for her words. Skinner acknowledged that Biles had previously responded with a message of support and pride for her. However, the repercussions of Biles' post led to an onslaught of hateful comments, direct messages, articles, and even death threats aimed at Skinner, her family, and her agent.

Addressing Biles directly, Skinner made a public plea, "To Simone, I am asking you directly and publicly to please put a stop to this. Please ask your followers to stop. You have been an incredible champion for mental health awareness, and a lot of people need your help now. We've been attacked in ways that I'm certain you never intended. Your performance, the team's performance, and the Olympics in general should be a time that we support one another."

Skinner's emotional video has sparked conversations about the impact of social media and the importance of responsible messaging. As the gymnastics community rallies together to address the issue of cyberbullying, hopes are high that Biles will use her platform to advocate for change and foster a culture of support and understanding.

As the fallout from MyKayla Skinner's controversial remarks continues, the gymnastics world waits to see if Simone Biles will respond to her plea for help, as both athletes navigate the challenges of fame, responsibility, and the impact of their words in the digital age.