Simone Biles is not holding back. The world-renowned gymnast has had enough of the online chatter about her hair and took to Instagram on Tuesday to set the record straight. In a powerful response to critics scrutinizing her hairstyle during Sunday’s gymnastics event, Biles defended herself with characteristic grace and candor.
In a video shared on her Instagram Story, Biles addressed the hair controversy head-on. “Don’t come for me about my hair. IT WAS DONE but bus has NO AC & it’s like 9,000 degrees,” she wrote, showing herself using a battery-operated fan on a sweltering bus. “Oh & a 45 min ride,” she added, emphasizing the extreme conditions she faced.
Clad in a black sports bra and a nameplate necklace honoring her husband Jonathan Owens, Biles made it clear that the heat and lack of air conditioning were not ideal for maintaining her look. In a second Instagram Story, she fired back at her detractors with a no-nonsense message: “Gonna hold your hand when I say this 💋 next time you wanna comment on a black girl’s hair. JUST DON’T.”
The backlash against Biles began after her performance during the women’s artistic gymnastics qualifications, where some on social media criticized her loosely knotted updo. One user on X (formerly Twitter) posted, “I’m just trying to figure out why Simone Biles’ hair never done? Like girllll come on,” adding, “STILL LOVE HER AND HOPE SHE DOES GREAT!”
Another critic remarked, “Simone Biles’ hair never being done properly be pissing me off. Everybody else on the team is put together, then she looks like she just rolled out of bed.” Yet another user questioned, “Did Simone Biles purposely not do her hair?? Every single gymnast CLEARLY has their hair gel/sprayed down and in a tight beat appearance…. Her bun is literally flopping around with pieces sloppy everywhere. It almost seems… on purpose…???? Wtf.”
However, many fans rallied to Biles’ defense, highlighting the absurdity of criticizing a world-class athlete for her appearance while she performs feats of incredible athleticism. One supporter tweeted, “Imagine being the kind of person who watches Simone Biles perform moves that no one else can do, twirl in the air multiple times and land on her two feet…only to comment on her hair! Imagine having that mentality?”
Another fan pointed out the absurdity of the focus on her hair, saying, “If one more person asks why Simone Biles’ hair is messy… she is quite literally flying and flipping in the damn air.” A third fan added, “Simone Biles is out here making history and people are worried about her body type and hair. We really are cooked as a people.”
This isn’t the first time Biles has had to defend her hair choices. Last year, she faced criticism for her wedding hairstyle and told critics to “keep complaining.” Earlier this month, she shared with Elle magazine that she used to be “embarrassed” about her hair but has learned to embrace it. “I’m finally learning to love my hair and the texture that I have and the styles that I can do,” she said.
Biles also revealed that, due to the lack of makeup artists or hairstylists available, the team relies on the talents of teammate Jordan Chiles for braids. “We can all go to her for braids,” Biles shared.
Despite the hair controversy, Biles continues to lead the U.S. women’s gymnastics team with unparalleled skill and determination. As she heads into the finals, we can be certain she’ll continue to perform at the highest level—hair critiques notwithstanding.