Stephen A. Smith has waded into Simone Biles’ trans feud with Riley Gaines – saying the former college swimmer went ‘too far’ in her spat with the Olympian before admitting that Gaines has ‘the right to feel’ the way she does.
Biles and Gaines, who has staunchly advocated against transgender women competing in women’s sports, began arguing after Gaines retweeted a picture of Minnesota team Champlin Park celebrating the state high school title that they won with transgender pitcher Marissa Rothenberger on the team.
Gaines wrote that the championship was ‘to be expected when your star player is a boy,’ before Biles responded by calling her ‘truly sick’ and even comparing her appearance to a man’s.
Gaines later responded by referencing the horrific sexual abuse Biles and other gymnasts suffered at the hands of pedophile doctor Larry Nassar.
‘All the horrific sexual abuse @Simmone_Biles witnessed and spoke out against caused by one man, yet believes women should be forced to strip naked in front of men to validate the man’s feelings,’ Gaines wrote. ‘You know how many gold medals you’d have if your ‘inclusive’ dream came true? Zero.’
That remark in particular earned a strong rebuke from Smith, who addressed the topic on his ‘Stephen A. Smith Show’ on Monday.
Stephen A. Smith said that Riley Gaines went ‘too far’ in referencing the sexual abuse of disgraced doctor Larry Nassar
Gaines has consistently campaigned against trans athletes competing in women’s sports
And Biles tore into Riley Gaines on social media for her stance on trans athletes
‘That’s going a bit too far. Talking about transgender women competing in sports is one issue. Using a guy like Larry Nassar, one of the most despicable human beings we’ve ever witnessed on this earth… to go that low – Gaines, you lost all credibility.
Smith continued by calling her remarks ‘cruel’ – before admitting that her broader position ‘should give us all cause to pause.
‘The reality is that it is a disservice to women in a lot of people’s eyes, that men transitioning to women get to compete in women’s sports,’ Smith said, before referencing the dominance of Gaines’ ex-college rival Lia Thomas.
‘What Riley Gaines is talking about does seem a bit unfair, she has a right to express those thoughts without Simone Biles coming at her that way,’ Smith said.
He also added that there are ‘an abundance of women who have a right to feel the way to feel how Riley Gaines feels.’
The popular sports commentator, who said that the debate was about competition in sports rather allowing people to ‘live and let live,’ later posited than their should be a separate division for trans women to compete in.
Gaines’ campaigning has won praise from Donald Trump , who welcomed her to the White House before signing the ‘Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports’ executive order in February.
Gaines responded to Biles at one point by referring to pedophile doctor Larry Nassar
Biles called Gaines a ‘sore loser’ and ‘truly sick’ as she and Gaines sparred on social media
Gaines shakes Donald Trump’s hand on the day he signed an executive order on trans athletes
However, Biles branded her a ‘sore loser’ on Friday night as she referenced her tying with Thomas for fifth place at the 200 Freestyle finals at the 2022 National Championships.
‘You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!!,’ Biles said after Gaines’ initial post about Rothenberger.
‘But instead… You bully them… One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!’
She then tweeted at Gaines again, saying: ‘Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.’
Gaines replied: ‘This is actually so disappointing. It’s not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women’s sports with YOUR platform. Men don’t belong in women’s sports and I say that with my full chest.’
She continued: ‘My take is the least controversial take on the planet. Simone Biles being a male-apologist at the expense of young girls’ dreams? Didn’t have that on my bingo card. Maybe she could compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028.’
Gaines then addressed Biles mocking her appearance, saying: ‘And the subtle hint at ‘body-shaming’ ???? Plzzzz I’m 5’5′.’
After referencing Nassar’s sexual abuse, Gaines actually doubled down on those remarks, sharing a clip of Biles testifying before Senate about the abuse suffered at the hands of the former team doctor.
Alongside it, she posted a screengrab of Biles’ initial post criticizing her.
‘Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man Vs Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men,’ she wrote.
Nassar was a leading doctor at Michigan State and with USA Gymnastics, but used his position within those organizations to sexually abuse young women under the guise of treatment at the now-closed Karolyi Ranch National Team Training Center in Huntsville, Texas.
