### Simone Biles and Riley Gaines: A Controversial Clash Over Transgender Athletes - Simone Biles, a celebrated Olympic gymnast, recently found herself at the center of a heated debate regarding transgender athletes in women's sports. This controversy escalated following her defense of a transgender high school athlete against criticism from Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and vocal anti-trans activist. In response to the backlash, Biles deactivated her X account, which had nearly two million followers, and shared a cryptic message about "madness" on Instagram shortly thereafter [https://www.outkick.com/sports/simone-biles-madness-message-instagram-deletes-x-account-riley-gaines-transgender-athlete-feud]. ### Breakdown of the Controversy and Reactions 1. **Background of the Feud**: - The conflict began when Biles defended a transgender athlete targeted by Gaines, leading to a public spat on social media [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-14837315/simone-biles-deletes-x-account-riley-gaines.html]. 2. **Biles' Social Media Actions**: - Following the feud, Biles made the drastic decision to deactivate her X account, which was noted by many as a significant move given her large following [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jun/23/simone-biles-deletes-x-account-riley-gaines-clash-transgender]. 3. **Gaines' Response**: - Riley Gaines expressed her disappointment over Biles' decision, stating it was "sad to see such a phenom go down like this," indicating her belief that Biles' actions were detrimental to her public image [https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/olympics/news-sad-see-phenom-go-like-this-riley-gaines-reacts-simone-biles-deactivating-account-transgender-athlete-controversy]. 4. **Public Backlash**: - Biles faced significant backlash on social media for her stance, which Gaines highlighted, suggesting that the gymnast was "getting dragged" online for her comments [https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/olympics/news-simone-biles-getting-dragged-social-media-riley-gaines-opens-brutal-backlash-faced-gymnast-transgender-athlete-row]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Social Media Impact**: - Biles had approximately **1.9 million followers** on X before deactivating her account, indicating her substantial influence and the potential impact of her statements on public opinion [https://www.outkick.com/sports/simone-biles-abruptly-deletes-x-account-riley-gaines-responds]. - **Public Sentiment**: - The reactions to Biles' defense of transgender athletes reflect a divided public opinion on the issue, with many supporting her stance while others aligned with Gaines' views against transgender participation in women's sports [https://www.themirror.com/sport/other-sport/simone-biles-trans-gaines-olympics-1224232]. ### Conclusion: The Fallout from the Biles-Gaines Feud - **Key Findings**: 1. **Biles' Defense**: Biles' defense of transgender athletes sparked a significant backlash, leading to her decision to deactivate her social media account. 2. **Gaines' Reaction**: Riley Gaines publicly lamented Biles' actions, framing them as a decline for a prominent athlete. 3. **Public Division**: The incident highlights the ongoing division in public opinion regarding transgender athletes in women's sports. - **Overall Implication**: The feud between Biles and Gaines underscores the complexities and emotional weight of discussions surrounding gender identity in sports, revealing how public figures navigate these contentious issues in the digital age [https://www.irishstar.com/sport/other-sports/riley-gaines-simone-biles-decision-35437069].