Former Coach Says Gabby Douglass Lied About Racism & Being Bullied
It didn’t take long for negative press to surface after Gabby Douglas’ interview with Oprah Winfrey aired. During her ‘Next Own’ interview, Gabby suggested that while training at Excalibur Gymnastics (her former gym) in Virginia Beach, she experienced racism. Specifically, Gabby said that a teammate demanded her to do something because she was their ‘slave’. Gabby told Oprah:
‘I definitely felt isolated. I felt, ‘Why do I deserve this? Is it because I’m black?’
Here’s a clip of Gabby sharing that she felt bullied:
[youtube width=”590″ height=”415″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UGOsnHaaoo[/youtube]
Her former coach Dena Walker responded to Gabby’s remarks, telling a Hampton Roads news outlet:
‘Really, I was shocked and very hurt.’
One of Gabby’s former team members, Randy Stageburg spoke with GymNewstics.com, denying Gabby’s experience.
‘This is absolutely ridiculous, Gabby was never a victim, in fact many would say she was one of the favorites. I am not saying that she never felt bullied because when you are in a sport with a bunch of girls it is bound to happen. However, anything that she may have felt was never about race and I can assure you everyone at some point has felt bullied. I watched Dena open her home to Gabby, feeding her, taking her to gym, and allowing her to stay over her house whenever Gabby wanted to…”
Even the CEO (Gustavo Moure) expressed his resentment towards what Gabby told Oprah and the rest of the world. He explained:
I wish to defend the children that trained with her and supported her when she attacks them with these allegations. Is Gabrielle a credible person just because she is an Olympic champion? She is not giving any names or dates, leading us to believe that the accusation is fake. Gabby’s remarks were hurtful and without merit. We’ve had more African-Americans in elite and on the national team than any other gym in the country.
What are your thoughts on their comments, disputing Gabby’s experience? Could Gabby have innocently exaggerated her experience or do you believe her claims that she was treated unfairly?
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I absolutly believe she was bullied.
She talked about one incident for which they may have no knowledge. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. They don’t know everything every child said at that gym. That’s ridiculous.
I don’t believe her. A story always sounds better when there was some “struggle” in it. I think she was put up to it
And I see her hair has been LAID since the Olympics.
What is bullying to one person may not seem like bullying to another person. Think about the many times that other races think that blacks are being too sensitive. You never know until you walk in someone’s shoes.
Chelsia, why would her hair be laid during the Olympics? To sweat it out? Ever black woman I know tie their hair up while engaging in physical activity. SMH
Please say it again. EVERY girl there had their hair put up. It’s a sport. She’s not modeling the leotard, she’s performing in it.
Thank you, I mean the whole “Gabby’s hair” issue made Black America look like Backward America. This young lady became the first African-American female to win this gold medal and Black folks focused on her hair. She worked out at least 35 hours weekly for years and we were worried about her ponytail. With all that she achieved and that beautiful smile, we paid more attention to her edges and her kitchen. Now, we are ready to jump and join this person who calls her a liar. Many people hide their being bullied because they consider being a victim to be a shameful thing. You know what is really shameful, negative comments about Gabby and the whole hair thing, so thank you for supporting her. We don’t need reality shows, we need reality checks.
Chelsia, sit down. I hope Gabby goes natural for all y’all creamy crack bitches. Her people are bankrupt. Did they make that shit up, too? She didn’t even put that out there so she’s clearly not a sensationalist. Why are we always so quick to make other people liars. Maybe cause you ass is a liar. Yeah. I said it.
Pardon me, *your* ass is a liar.
I believe her, I can see her teammates being jealous of her because everyone know she is the best, and because she was the only black on the team, I believe they did call her a slave. She has already won her medals, and have done several different interviews, I dont think she would have a reason to lie now…she not k.michelle lol
Bullied? Yes. Racism? I doubt it. Every rookie is bullied or put threw some sort of hazing when they join a team. If it was race related she should’ve left the gym. I think she had to sensationalize it for Oprah. She may have been advised to by producers.
any less crThere are many times even I as a kid was bullied to due to racist jokes and I never reported it so it doesn’t make her any less credible. This whole fad about lets stand up for bulling will be over soon. There has always been bullying and there will always be bullying. Whether you choose to talk about it right away when it happens or 20 years later it still affects you whether on a small or large level. Leave poor Gabby alone you all are just mad because you were not with her to get her gold.edible.
YES I BELIEVE HER,IN VA,THERE IS SO MUCH OF THAT HERE,YOU FEEL IT YOU SEE IT,AND THE WHITE PEOPLE ,NOT ALL ,WANT YOU TO FEEL IT THEY WANT YOU TO HOLD YOUR HEAD IN SHAME, THEY STAND BEHIND YOU AND LAUGHT AT YOUR HAIR,LIKE WE CAN HELP WHAT GROWS OUT OF OUR SCALP,ITS HARD TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE SOMETHING,IN THE FIRST PLACE.THEY ROLL THEIR EYES AT YOU THEY ACT LIKE YOU STINK OR SOMETHING WE DONT STINK WE BATH LIKE YOU,AND WHEN WE DON’T WE STINK LIKE YOU STINK OK,AND THATS LIKE EVERYONE.LEAVE GABBY ALONE THEY ARE JEALOUS THAT SHE IS DOING GOOD,AND THEY DISLIKE HER FOR THAT, WHITES WANT TO BE FIRST ALWAYS AND IN THE PASS TOOK CREDIT THAT A BLACK DID AND GOT AWAY WITH IT,AND YOU KNOW WHAT STILL IS.SORRY GABBY FOR THEIR BAD BEHAVOR,STAY STRONG.
YOU HAVE HAIR ,NOT TRACTS, BUT THEY WERE TRACTS TO.
WHO SAID SHE WASN’T BULLIED,HOW WOULD THEY KNOW, IF YOU ARE WHITE, THEN YOU WON’T SEE OR FEEL IT LIKE WE DO,OR SOMETIMES WONT RECONISE IT AS WE DO.
I BELIEVE HER. THE GROWN UP WHO COME RIGHT OUT AND CALL HER A LIAR WERE NOT AROUND HER AND THE OTHER GIRLS EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY. BESIDES, SHE DIDN’T SAY IT WAS RACISM. SHE WAS MADE TO FEEL EXCLUDED. SHE HERSELF WAS LOOKING FOR ANSWERS TO WHAT SHE FELT. SHE WAS ASKING A QUESTION. WAS IT BECAUSE I’M BLACK? I SUPPORT HER. I SAW SIGNS OF THE EXCLUSION AMONG THE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS DURING THE OLYMPICS MYSELF.
She is probably not lying. I grew up around a lot of wh!te people. And they ARE like that to people who are different. And I’m pretty sure it’s vice-versa for anyone else that is a MINORITY amongst a MAJORITY, unfortunately. Young girls, especially will make snide comments and isolate you purposely (of any race, actually). They can be true demon cats… seriously.