Whitlock criticizes Simone Biles in harsh terms: “She’s not Caitlin Clark, she’s not important”
After Simone Biles made her open confession about pulling out of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Jason Whitlock responded angrily. During her appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Biles discussed how her decision was negatively impacted by social media attention, saying:
“‘America hates me. The world is going to hate me. I can only see what they’re saying on Twitter right now.’ Usually if you go to the Olympics and flop or whatever it is, you get people on their couch eating those little chips. I thought I was going to be banned from America, ’cause that’s what they tell you: ‘Don’t come back if not gold. Gold or bust. Don’t come back.'”
Plays the Role of Victim: Simone Biles Faces Backlash From Jason Whitlock Amid Caitlin Clark Comparison! https://t.co/IY5ryqZjZ2
— Jurnal Time (@jurnaltimeUSA) April 20, 2024
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Whitlock responded bluntly, comparing Biles to Indiana Fever first-round pick Caitlin Clark in the women’s basketball draft. Biles’s sense of self-importance was brushed off by him when he said, “She’s built up this importance of herself and does things to make herself feel important.” Whitlock highlighted how gymnasts’ significance is ephemeral, saying, “She’s a gymnast and every four years they are relevant for a two or three week stretch.”
Biles is compared to Clark by the podcast host.
Whitlock went on to draw attention to the difference in Biles’s and Clark’s public exposure, noting that whereas Biles is generally unknown, Clark always seems to get immediate acknowledgment. With a note that “It is a by-product of these young people and this new era we are living in where Twitter is their reality. It distorts reality.” Whitlock explained that this was caused by the distortion of reality promoted by social media.
Simone Biles is pretending like she’s Caitlin Clark and that people actually know who she is. She’s built up this importance of herself and does things to make herself feel important. pic.twitter.com/ve8Koy1hm3
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) April 19, 2024
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“But Simon Biles could walk by the overwhelming majority of people in an airport and they wouldn’t think twice – ‘oh there goes a little black girl’. They just wouldn’t think twice. So they build up this importance of themselves. And then they start doing things to make themselves appear important. But in the grand scheme of things she is not important. She didn’t cut through the way when Caitlin Clark goes anywhere, people recognize her. That’s not the same for Simone Biles”.
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Biles is still going strong and getting ready for the U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut, next month in spite of the criticism. Her possible participation in the 2015 Paris Olympics, which are set to begin on July 26, is a subject of much speculation. Notwithstanding the uncertainty surrounding her future, Biles’ tenacity and devotion to her sport are clear, highlighting her will to persevere through difficulties and carry on competing at the top level.
