Simone Biles Under Fire for What She Said During the ESPYs originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
It’s been weeks, but Simone Biles can’t seem to escape the social media firestorm she started when he began a public feud with OutKick host and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines over transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
Though she’s since apologized for criticizing Gaines’ personal appearance, which she likened to a male, and walked back her remarks about transgender athletes’ spot in women’s sports, quite a large contingency of fans have yet to forgive Biles for what she said.
That was quite evident on Wednesday after Biles won the ESPY award for Best Championship Performance for winning gold in the women’s all-around event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Biles beat out several other worthy nominees including Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry, who hit the go-ahead 3-pointer for the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team in the gold medal game, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who won the World Series MVP, and PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy, who won his first Masters title and completed his career grand slam.
Biles tried to play off the moment as a shocking victory, and when she took to the ESPY stage, she began her acceptance speech by saying: “That was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men. So thank you guys so much.”
Biles then concluded her speech with the line, “I believe in the power of sport, the power of us, and, of course, the power of she” — which several fans seemingly took exception to on social media.
“Ironic that @Simone_Biles references being the winner in a category of only men…. Yet she won't defend/protect girls’ sports,” one fan wrote.
“And the ESPY for most awkward acceptance speech ever bc you still feel awkward af about how you said men should compete against women goes to… Simone Biles,” another fan replied.
“Simone Biles is woke trash. She is ok with biological males competing with biological females in sports. This is why she won an ESPY. The ESPY'S are a joke anyway,” one user scoffed.
“@Simone_Biles wins the first award, and still the only thing she can talk about is gender lmaooo #ESPYS2025,” remarked a second user.
“Simone Biles wins an award where every other nominee was a man, meaning she beat all of them out for the award, and the very first thing out of her mouth is a comment about women being held back by men. [expletive] is insufferable. #ESPYS2025,” another fan sneered.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
