SIMONE BILES BACKTRACKS IN PUBLIC MELTDOWN: Riley Gaines Demands REAL Apology After ‘Groveling’ PR Statement Sparks Fury Over Body-Shaming and Trans Sports Comments

What was meant to be a moment of reconciliation turned into a firestorm. Simone Biles issued what many believed was a carefully worded PR apology, but critics—led by Riley Gaines—say it missed the mark. With emotions running high and the spotlight hotter than ever, Biles found herself backpedaling in the court of public opinion. Did her apology heal—or just pour gas on the fire?

Watch the moment that’s dividing fans and igniting national debate.

In a controversy that’s igniting fierce debate across America, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles is under fire after issuing what critics are calling a “groveling PR-crafted apology” to women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines. But Gaines, who had initially accepted the apology, is now demanding the truth be told — and the damage be acknowledged.

The firestorm began when Biles lashed out at Gaines on X (formerly Twitter), calling her “truly sick” and a “sore loser” after Gaines criticized the inclusion of a biological male pitcher on a high school girls’ softball team. Biles doubled down by shaming Gaines’ physique, saying she should “bully someone her own size — ironically, a male.”

The attack sent shockwaves through the athletic world. Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and outspoken advocate for fairness in women’s sports, initially responded with grace — but made clear the deeper issue wasn’t about personal insults.

“She can say what she wants about me,” Gaines said, “I’m secure in myself. But what she’s telling the next generation of girls who look up to her — that’s what hurts. These young girls are watching and wondering: Is anyone going to stand up for us?”

After days of silence, Biles released an apology that many viewed as hollow and evasive. “I’ve always believed in competitive equity and inclusivity,” the statement read. “It did not help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for.”

But to Riley Gaines and many others, that statement wasn’t an apology at all — it was a strategic retreat.

“That wasn’t Simone Biles speaking,” Gaines said bluntly in a televised interview. “That was her PR team trying to clean up a mess. And let’s be honest — it didn’t even address what really happened. It was damage control. That’s not accountability.”

Gaines described the apology as a “big win,” not because of its content, but because it forced a powerful public figure to walk back what she called “pro-trans propaganda.” She said Biles’ retraction would have been unthinkable just a year ago.

“She alienated everyone,” Gaines said. “That’s what happens when you try to sit on the fence. You can’t be neutral on something this important.”

The apology has triggered an intense backlash from both sides. Liberal voices on social media platform BlueSky accused Biles of betrayal. One post read: “What is shameful is Simone Biles apologizing to the fascist monster,” referring to Gaines. “No pity for bigots. No mercy for traitors.”

Gaines, who has endured years of online harassment and threats for her activism, said she wasn’t surprised.

“I hate that Simone Biles has to be on the receiving end of that hate now,” she added, “but that’s what happens when you try to take a stand and then retreat. Everyone turns on you.”

Gaines emphasized that her fight isn’t against individuals — it’s about preserving the integrity of women’s sports. She said Biles missed a chance to stand up for young female athletes across the country.

“If she truly believes in fairness, then join us,” Gaines said. “I’ve signed my name on lawsuits against the NCAA. This isn’t a hashtag. This is a battle for reality. I would love for Simone Biles to actually take a stand and walk the walk.”

But Gaines didn’t stop there.

She ripped into the phrase “competitive equity,” calling it a “nonsensical oxymoron.”

“Sports are inclusive. Anyone can play. But competition — by definition — is exclusive. There’s a winner. That’s what competition means,” she said. “Trying to have both just doesn’t make sense.”

One of the most painful parts of Biles’ original message, Gaines said, was the body-shaming.

“She called me someone with a male stature,” Gaines recalled. “I’m 5’5″. I’m muscular. And if anyone should understand what that means for a female athlete, it should be Simone Biles.”

The message didn’t just hurt Gaines. It sent a ripple effect through families across the country. She shared a heartbreaking story about her 16-year-old sister, a gymnast, who came to her in tears.

“She told me, ‘Riley, I admire you so much. But after what Simone said… I can’t look up to her anymore.’ That’s the damage,” Gaines said. “That’s why this matters.”

Co-host Harris Faulkner was visibly emotional. “It breaks my heart,” she said. “Simone Biles, after everything she went through, especially testifying about abuse from a male doctor in women’s sports — how could she not understand why this issue is so important?”

Gaines drew a powerful comparison between her own experiences and Biles’ past.

“She and I both spoke out about injustice in women’s sports. Different issues, same heart. So why does one get applauded and the other attacked?” Gaines asked.

She made a vivid and chilling point about the locker room experience: “Picture being a teenage girl, naked under a showerhead, and a 6’4″ naked biological male is standing there watching you. That’s not okay.”

Gaines acknowledged the sensitive nature of referencing Biles’ history with Larry Nassar but said the point was vital. “Anyone who tries to normalize what either of us went through is a disgusting human being,” she said.

When asked if she was shocked Biles had targeted her, Gaines admitted she was heartbroken.

“I had to check if it was the real Simone Biles,” she said. “This is someone I admired. Someone who did so much for women’s sports. To see her say those things… it crushed me.”

Despite it all, Gaines said she holds no personal resentment. But she is demanding something more — something real.

“If you want to apologize, then do it yourself,” she said. “Don’t hide behind a publicist. Don’t pretend this never happened. Stand up and say, ‘I was wrong.’ That’s what young girls need to hear. That’s what they deserve.”

In a moment that silenced the studio, co-host Kayleigh McEnany said: “I’ll tell my daughter to look up to you, Riley.”

Charles Payne added: “You’re an American hero — for women, and for men.”

Gaines responded with a quiet, heartfelt, “Thank you.”

But the fight, she warned, is far from over.

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