Simone Biles Responds to Negative Comments About Her Hair During 2024 Olympics

Simone Biles took a moment from dominating the world of gymnastics to clap back at any potential critique of her competition look, namely, her hair.

Today, Biles competed in the gymnastics team finals at the Paris 2024 Olympic games and took the gold medal in a historic win that officially makes her the American gymnast with the most medals. But before that, Biles took to Instagram Stories to set some boundaries: “Don’t come for me about my hair. IT WAS DONE but bus has no AC & it’s like 9,000 degrees,” Biles captioned an Instagram Stories video while holding an electric fan. “Next time you wanna comment on a black girl’s hair, JUST DON’T,” she captioned a selfie.

The pre-competition warning was prompted by comments online. As much praise as the superstar gymnast receives for breaking records and winning golds, she has been seen intense scrutiny of her appearance. While she gave her all to represent the United States on the world stage, some people were quick to share their unwarranted thoughts about her hair on social media. “I love Simone Biles down but sissy why didn’t you gel up/pin up your hair like you’re at the Olympics,” wrote one X user. “Simone Biles is an undeniable talent but at this point, I have to believe that her messy hair is A CHOICE,” wrote another.

The athlete has previously addressed the impact of the internet’s opinions in her Netflix documentary, Simone Biles Rising. “People are way too comfortable commenting things,” she said, adding that “the beauty standard, everything, is just too much.”

It’s disappointing that one of the world’s greatest and most decorated athletes has to justify her hair not being perfect at every moment in the searing heat of summer. No matter their achievements, it seems that women are often reduced to their appearance. The pressure to keep up appearances is particularly heavy on Black women, who typically have to second-guess whether their hairstyle of choice will be viewed as acceptable in social, educational, and workspaces due to prejudice.

In an interview with Elle ahead of the Olympics, Biles revealed that throughout her career in the spotlight, she has developed a healthier relationship with her hair. “I’m finally learning to love my hair and the texture that I have and the styles that I can do,” she said. Speaking about people criticizing her 2023 wedding hairstyle, Biles noted that “most of the backlash we get is from our own community, which is unfortunate… I don’t really care if my edges aren’t smooth.”