Posted on 08/10/2016 7:15:43 AM PDT by simpson96
Gabby Douglas may have just helped her team win gold at the Olympics but that hasn't stopped some fans criticizing her for not putting her hand on her heart during the U.S. national anthem.
The American gymnast was the only member of her squad who was photographed with her hands by her sides as The Star-Spangled Banner played in Rio on Tuesday.
The Olympic veteran took gold alongside Madison Kocian, Laurie Hernandez, Simone Biles and Aly Raisman in the Women's Team All-Around gymnastics ompetition.
Twitter user Angela complained: 'There is no excuse as to why you could not salute the flag of the country that gave you the opportunity to compete.'
'Gabby Douglas just standing there and not placing her hand over her heart while our anthem played was UN-Olympic,' Dawn Wisdom wrote.
'As a military kid Gabby Douglas knows the proper way to respect the anthem,' another social media user said.
And Brittany Hargrave added: 'On the one hand, so proud of the Final Five gold win. On the other, so disappointed Gabby Douglas didn't salute the flag.'
Douglas explained why she didn't raise her hand to her heart during the national anthem after spotting the complaints on social media.
'First I want to say thank you everyone for all your support! It's a huge honor for me to be able to represent Team USA,' she said.
'In response to a few tweets I saw tonight, I always stand at attention out of respect for our country whenever the national anthem is played.
'I never meant any disrespect and apologize if I offended anyone. I'm so overwhelmed at what our team accomplished today and overjoyed that we were able to bring home another gold for our country.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
She’s protesting, docha’ know? USA is a very evil, disgusting country.
I’ll take issue with her and the first girls HORRIBLE hair style.
But i’ll give her a pass on the hand over heart for the pledge since kids haven’t been required to say the pledge in decades and she probably doesn’t honestly know
Standing at attention? Looks like she’s holding back that Black Power fist.
Just another America-hating negro lass with a gigantic chip on her shoulder. She’s emulating the Worst Lady.
People complaining on Twitter? That is shocking news!
She should give the medal away and migrate to Cuba.
GABBY won the medal, but she lost AMERICA’S respect.
I think there is something wrong with her. Douglas trained for years at an elite gym in Virginia. Then after she became famous she denounced the gym as being full of racists.
So either the gym really was filled with racists (who were able to keep it all a secret for years and years), or Douglas horribly smeared a gym that help make her what she is.
Well, I must say she has lost a lot of fans and supporters. She was so graceful in 2012. Now she just looks like another angry victim. So sorry to see this. Did she put her hand over her heart in 2012? I suspect she did as I don’t remember any controversy connected to her ‘Goldern Girl’ status back then. She has now lost the respect of many who thought she was a really good person, not just a stellar Olympic athlete.
I was all set to say give her a break....she probably was lost in the moment and lets wait to hear her answer the criticisms with an explanation.
Then I see the photo and she has her right fist clenched down by her thigh.
Photos can trick the eye with the snapshot in time....but to me it looks like she is contemplating oerforming the black power salute and cannot muster the courage so she is doing it surrepticiously.
That “first girl” was singing enthusiastically along with the anthem. She was ribbed about it later.
“I never meant any disrespect”
Liar
Look at her fist
I noticed right away that she had a nasty attitude about her so it doesn’t surprise me a bit.
That is how she "stands at attention" while the national anthem is playing?
Looking down and away with a clenched fist?
I feel sorry for her.
I bet her military mommy and daddy are so proud...and I feel sorrow for them, too.
Hey, girl...it's called "Honoring". Show a little love and respect for the folks back home.
Don't forget what Dear Leader says: "You didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."
In other shots you can see she is holding something that looks like a cloth bag the medal is placed in. She could just be gripping the bag and you cannot see from the position of the photo. I think some here are jumping on a non issue just like the media jumps on every gesture and word said by Trump. Let’s see if she salutes the flag if she receives any other gold medals.
Aly Raisman deserved to be in the All-Around competition. I suspect Douglas is bitter that she didn’t make the cut this year after winning the gold four years ago. Douglas will sink into obscurity soon enough, Bitter people never continue on a successful path. Sad. She really was ‘all that’ back in 2012, wasn’t she? I was so looking forward to seeing her perform this year, but she doesn’t have the grace of her previous performances any more. I’d guess probably her attitude is affecting her routines.
Looks like she’s holding back that Black Power fist.
Does look like it.
What a sad shame.
I wonder if she was thinking, “all this for a d@m# flag?”
You haven’t come a long way,baby. But the rest of us will get along fine with or without you.
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