Olympic gymnast Simone Biles has no time for internet trolls. The 20 year old posted a vacation selfie captioned “resting beach face.” She shows off all things Summer 2017: mirrored sunglasses, a vented swimsuit, and floral-print drinkware.
An Instagram commenter who goes by SarahNicole715 didn’t take kindly to Biles living her best life.
“Seems like you have partied non stop for a year #trash #unfollow #suckyassrolemodel.”
Ouch.
Apparently training since age six, become an elite athlete, and represent your country on the world stage is still not enough for some. Biles is just one more young adult facing unfair criticism.
Take 24-year-old Chance the Rapper, as another example. He’s become independently successful, donated $1 million to Chicago schools, and even personally invited sign language interpreters on his tour to make shows inclusive for hard-of-hearing fans.
Spike Lee, the famed director 36 years Chance’s senior, called him a “fraud.” Vox said “It’s Tough to Be a Chance The Rapper Fan When You’re Not a Christian.” Would they have said the same about Denzel Washington, another outspoken Christian, who happens to be older?
Then there’s millennial tech poster boy Mark Zuckerberg, who not only revolutionized social media as we know it, but also donates millions to charitable causes. He recently announced a goal of visiting all 50 U.S. states. The twitterverse – especially the Republican end – bashed Zuck for trying to fit in with Iowa locals.
Wait…I thought we wanted coastal elites to leave their bubbles and meet Real America? If Bill Gates did the same thing, he’d probably garner praise for his thoughtful effort. Zuck, though, is a geeky young hoodie-wearing dad, and therefore a target for mockery.
When Miley Cyrus twerked her way to infamy in 2013, the “she’s a bad role model” freak-out rocked the nation. Who knew that Miley, even after the show ended, was still responsible for raising millions of kids she’d never met? Meanwhile, just months earlier, Madonna gave a scantily-clad, suggestive Super Bowl performance. No one accused Madge of corrupting “the Youths.”
As for Simone Biles, she didn’t let the insults go unpunished. She fired back, “Talk to me when you train for 14 years and earn 5 Olympic medals. I think kids would say otherwise. My year off is well deserved. Take a couple seats.”
This Instagram critic struck a chord because, like so many others, she holds young people to an impossible standard. Biles isn’t serious enough for the Vacation Police of Instagram, yet not cheery enough for Dancing With the Stars host Tom Bergeron, who asked her why she didn’t smile as the show’s judges praised her routine. Her answer? “Smiling doesn’t win you gold medals.”
It’s not enough to be tremendously talented, graceful, and confident. Young people should be working hard at all times, and perpetually smiling about it.
Biles is unapologetically good at what she does, and calls out ridiculous double standards. Young people are allowed to have fun – and perhaps no one has earned a break more than the most dedicated among us. Biles’ comeback scores a perfect 10.
