Gabby Douglas is criticized for not putting her hand on her heart during U.S. national anthem -

Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | 8/10/2016 | Sarah Dean For Mailonline

[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.'

[Blue Turtle]

This is depressing...we had recently watched the movie and enjoyed her story very much. They didn’t push the anti-american or racist thing...in fact she stayed with a white family to train.

[super7man]

Well, that should be good for a few million in lost endorsements.

[semimojo]

...no salute, and avoiding looking at the flag.

So which of the six is looking at the flag? Two are looking at the camera and the other four are each looking somewhere else.

[varon]

Looks like she’s holding back that Black Power fist.

Agreed!!!

[NorthMountain]

So which of the six

Five. The sixth head is actually Russian, and wearing a silver medal.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"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."

That's not an explanation. That is an equivocation at best. An obfuscation at worst.

[Mr. Mojo]

Check out that clenched right fist. Only thing missing is the black glove. And the guts to raise it.

Apparently she’s bitter about a lot of things, not the least of which is the fact that she’s now the least talented member of the team.

[IronJack]

That was my first reaction. She probably didn’t know that etiquette and tradition dictate she salute the flag during the national anthem. How would she know? Was she ever taught? Respect for tradition isn’t part of our culture any more.

[Senator_Blutarski]

Attitude. It’s why race relations have deteriorated under Obama and the worst lady.

[semimojo]

Five. The sixth head is actually Russian, and wearing a silver medal.

Fair point.

[RoosterRedux]

What she doesn't realize is, despite the fact that a gold medal is worth a lot of money in future years, she is killing her brand.

She won't get the last laugh.

[SkyDancer]

Just following 0bama’s same attitude while the National Anthem was played and he stood away from the other candidates with his hands over his ....

[BigEdLB]

Ali Reisman will go for a career in opera after her gynmast days are over. Singing her heart out. She ouught to get endorsements after a trip to the salon.

[NorthMountain]

How would she know?

She participated in the Olympic Games four years ago, she has spent years in national and international competition ... She has no excuse NOT to know.

[funfan]

Wasn’t she in the 2012 Olympics? Be interesting to see what she did then.

[sanjuanbob]

I didn’t see the flag ceremony, but my wife and I watched her a couple of nights ago and both remarked that she had a militant look of disdain on her face. Something’s changed in this young lady since the last Olympics. Hope I’m wrong.

[outinyellowdogcountry]

I think you are right about her disappointment/bitterness over not making All-Around. This year she hasn’t looked happy. She is still outstanding but maybe her time was passed and she is having trouble dealing. It’s hard when you have been the best and don’t hang on to that. I am happy for Ali though. She is tough. And Laurie Hernandez makes me smile!

[laweeks]

Something’s changed in this young lady s

No, noting's changed. She's a typical pouting "give me everything-this country stinks" Negro.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

When the Pledge of Allegiance is recited, I place my hand over my heart, but I simply stand at attention when the national anthem is played - this is what just about everyone usually does at ball games I attend, which is where most of us usually hear the national anthem played.

Maybe there's an Olympic tradition of putting hand over heart for the playing of the anthem, but I think standing respectfully is within bounds. I found the antics of Michael Phelps' friends during the anthem playing to be more irritating, since they disrupted the respect due to the flag.

[longfellow]

How can you respect this country after what the demoncraps have done to it.
This ain’t my America either gabby.

But I’m sure it’s a black thing with her