'Simone Biles craves attention now can't handle it,' caller says - Shelagh Fogarty responds

29 July 2021, 17:16

Shelagh Fogarty's response to listener's unkind verdict on Biles

By Fiona Jones

Shelagh Fogarty gives a moving response to a listener who claims US Olympic great Simone Biles is "desperate for attention" now can't handle it - despite "plastering herself all over social media.

It comes as the US gymnastics star Simone Biles has withdrawn from her second Olympic final in two days, citing the need to "focus on her mental health".

On Wednesday morning US Gymnastics said Biles had "withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition...in order to focus on her mental health".

The organisation added: "Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week's individual event finals."

However despite this medical verdict, LBC listener Christopher in Oxfordshire had a verdict of his own, writing to Shelagh: "I think what people have a problem with is sports stars and celebrities plastering themselves all over social media, desperate for the attention, then complaining when they can't handle it. They seem surprised."

James O'Brien's message for those blasting Biles over withdrawal

Shelagh responded: "I think that's a rather uncharitable take, certainly on Simone Biles' case because she's not talking about the pressure of attention, she's talking about in not very explicit terms...the nature of her mental distress.

"She's just telling us it's there and the least we can do is believe her and respect her right to choose to live her life the way she wishes to.

"Because she's a public figure and because it's the middle of the Olympics, then she has an obligation to say she's doing it, doesn't she? But she doesn't have to tell us why.

"She's already, along with many others sadly in gymnastic, revealed she was sexually abused. Have a heart."

Ms Biles' retweet from fellow gymnast Andrea Orris which has suggested the sexual abuse she endured from former US team doctor Larry Nassar has contributed to her mental health struggles.

Nassar, 57, was convicted of sexually violating numerous young athletes over multiple decades, and was sentenced for up to 175 years in prison.

The tweet from Andrea Orris, which Ms Biles shared with her followers, read: "It makes me so frustrated to see comments about Simone not being mentally tough enough or quitting on her team.

"We are talking about the same girl who was molested by her team doctor throughout her entire childhood and teen years.

"That girl has endured more trauma by the age of 24 than most people will ever go through in a lifetime."We will never know or fully understand her personal choices and struggles."

More Shelagh Fogarty News

See more More Shelagh Fogarty News

The Princess of Wales says she edited the photograph that was released to mark Mother's Day.

The insistence that we see Kate is tantamount to stalking, writes Shelagh Fogarty

Caller tells Shelagh his solution to illegal immigration.

LBC caller tells Shelagh Fogarty that the Channel islands are the answer to 'illegal immigration'

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' immigration policies

'Rishi Sunak chooses to do the self-interested party politics': Shelagh Fogarty reflects on Tories' migration policies

Shelagh Fogarty

Former Treasury official outlines 'three immediate priorities' likely to be reflected in Autumn Statement

Shelagh Fogarty

Suella Braverman's hardline crime bill seems like she's ‘interviewing' for career at ‘pathetic’ news channels, says caller

Shelagh and caller Sam

Anti-Semitic chants and actions 'delegitimize' pro-Palestinian cause asserts this Shelagh Fogarty caller

Shelagh and Ricardo Dos Santos

'It's sickening': Ricardo Dos Santos speaks to Shelagh Fogarty as two officers sacked over stop and search

Shelagh

Rishi Sunak has 'failed monumentally' to 'humanise' both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict says Israel expert

Shelagh and Callum

Twitter is a 'particularly dangerous' place to get information now says the Centre for Countering Digital Hate

Shelagh and caller Simon

LBC caller details 'disgusting anti-Semitic' act he witnessed, as hate crimes rise in fall out of Israel-Hamas war

Sister of missing Israeli woman

'We hope she's hiding somewhere': Sister of missing Israeli festival goer fears she is being held hostage by Hamas

Distraught caller on Israel-Gaza conflict.

'This is a war against Hamas!': Distraught caller wants Israel and Palestine to take down the 'enemy' together

Shelagh and Alicia Kearns

Head of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee expresses concern over Israeli 'siege of Gaza'

Shelagh Fogarty caller on facial recognition.

This caller lacks 'trust' in the government's handling of the AI facial recognition debate

Shelagh condemns PM's comments on 'dignity' of the elderly.

'He painted a picture of a Britain that the Conservatives meant to build...': Shelagh Fogarty condemns PM's suggestion that elderly have 'dignity'

Shelagh Fogarty on Jenrick

'We're full aren't we?': Shelagh questions Robert Jenrick's motive behind encouraging Brits to increase birth rate