Simone Biles Issues Statement After Riley Gaines Feud, Apologizes for Getting 'Personal'

Simone Biles is sharing an update after her X exchange with Riley Gaines amid anti-trans comments.

If you didn’t know, Riley, 25, is a conservative activist and former swimmer known for campaigning against the participation of trans women in women’s sports ever since she came in fifth place in a race where a trans swimmer out-swam her.

On Friday (June 6), Riley commented on a post on X from Minnesota State High School League, which celebrated its first softball state championship win.

“Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy,” Riley wrote, referring to Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender athlete who is a pitcher for the team, according to Fox News.

“You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race,” Simone wrote X. “Straight up sore loser. 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!! But instead… You bully them… One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!”

Simone further called out Riley publicly for her views, but is now issuing another statement.

Keep reading to find out more…

Simone posted on Tuesday (June 10), “I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport. The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for.”

She continued, “These are sensitive, complicated issues that I truly don’t have the answers or solutions to, but I believe it starts with empathy and respect. I was not advocating for policies that compromise fairness in women’s sports. My objection is to be singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful. Individual athletes—especially kids—should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over. I believe sports organizations have a responsibility to come up with rules supporting inclusion while maintaining fair competition. We all want a future for sport that is fair, inclusive, and respectful. ”