A firestorm is raging across social media: Did a left-wing columnist just get obliterated for defending Simone Biles after she slammed Riley Gaines? This explosive controversy, sparked by a viral Threads poll, has racked up thousands of reactions and turned the platform into a digital battleground. The bombshell that set it all off? A single, jaw-dropping claim: “Biles is betraying women’s sports to push a woke agenda!” That incendiary accusation has transformed a columnist’s defense into a cultural lightning rod, with users flooding Threads to argue, meme, and vent in a frenzy of clicks and shares.
The drama erupted when USA Today columnist Nancy Armour painted Biles as a hero for the transgender community after the Olympic gymnast called out Riley Gaines, a former swimmer and advocate for keeping women’s sports exclusive to biological females. Biles, 28, went after Gaines on X, labeling her a “sore loser” and “truly sick” for criticizing a Minnesota high school softball team’s win, led by a transgender pitcher. Armour’s column doubled down, claiming there’s “no scientific evidence” that transgender women have a physical advantage in sports—a statement that unleashed a torrent of backlash. One Threads user dropped a shocker: “Armour’s gaslighting everyone to protect Biles’ attack on fairness!” True or not, that claim has sent the internet into a tailspin.
The feud traces back to Gaines’ June 6 post, where she mocked the Minnesota State High School League for disabling comments on a post celebrating Champlin Park High School’s championship, noting, “To be expected when your star player is a boy.” Biles fired back, accusing Gaines of bullying and suggesting a separate transgender sports category. Gaines, 25, hit back hard, calling Biles a “male-apologist” and invoking her past trauma with Larry Nassar to argue against transgender inclusion in women’s sports. Armour’s defense of Biles, framing Gaines as a bigot, lit the fuse for a broader clash, with conservative voices like Megyn Kelly and Clay Travis slamming Biles for “playing the woke card” and Armour for ignoring public sentiment. Posts on X show 70% of Americans oppose biological males in women’s sports, a stat Armour conveniently sidestepped.
The comment sections are a war zone. Supporters of Gaines, a 12-time All-American swimmer who tied with transgender athlete Lia Thomas in 2022, argue she’s fighting for fairness. One user wrote, “Biles built her legacy on women’s sports, but now she’s pulling the ladder up behind her!” Biles’ defenders, however, praise her for standing up for marginalized athletes, with one saying, “She’s using her platform for inclusion, not hate.” The columnist’s claim about “no scientific evidence” has drawn particular ire, with users citing studies showing male puberty confers lasting physical advantages. The debate has spiraled into personal attacks, with Gaines alleging Biles body-shamed her by suggesting she “bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”
What’s fueling this chaos? The Biles-Gaines feud taps into a national divide over transgender athletes, amplified by recent political moves like Trump’s executive order banning trans women from women’s sports. Gaines, a vocal activist, has been a lightning rod since her NCAA experience, while Biles’ status as the most decorated gymnast ever makes her stance seismic. Armour’s column, dismissing Gaines’ concerns and glossing over public opinion, has been called “intellectual dishonesty” by critics like Orlando Sentinel’s Mike Bianchi, who argue biology, not bigotry, is the issue. Threads is buzzing with hashtags like #StandWithRiley and #BilesForInclusion, reflecting the polarized sentiment.
The backlash against Armour is relentless. Users on X and Threads have called her out for shaming women who oppose transgender inclusion, with one post stating, “She’s humiliating girls for wanting fair competition!” Gaines herself tore into Armour on her podcast, calling her “insufferable” and accusing her of publicly humiliating female athletes. The columnist’s claim about scientific evidence has been debunked by users citing studies on male physical advantages, turning her defense of Biles into a lightning rod for criticism. Yet, some defend Armour, arguing she’s highlighting Biles’ compassion for trans athletes at a time when they face growing hostility.
This isn’t just a feud—it’s a cultural reckoning. The clash between Biles’ inclusivity and Gaines’ push for fairness reflects deeper tensions over biology, equity, and free speech. Biles’ apology on June 10, where she expressed regret for getting personal with Gaines while standing by trans inclusion, only poured fuel on the fire. Gaines accepted the apology but doubled down, saying, “I’m on the right side of history.” The phrase “betraying women’s sports” has stuck, true or not, driving clicks and outrage. Threads thrives on these viral moments, where a single controversy can spark a national uproar.
Where do you stand? Is Armour’s defense of Biles a brave stand for inclusion, or a tone-deaf dismissal of women’s sports fairness? The poll’s still live, and the internet is ablaze. Jump into the fray on Threads—vote, argue, or just watch the chaos unfold. But beware: once you’re in, you won’t look away. 💣
