What started as a heated exchange on social media between Olympic legend Simone Biles and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines has now erupted into a national conversation — and sports commentator Stephen A. Smith just added major fuel to the fire.

Simone Biles calls Riley Gaines 'sick' over criticism of transgender athletes

A Dispute That’s Gone Viral

On June 6, Riley Gaines sparked outrage online when she linked trans athlete inclusion in women’s sports to the sexual abuse scandal involving disgraced Team USA doctor Larry Nassar. Simone Biles — herself a survivor of Nassar’s abuse — quickly fired back, accusing Gaines of cruelty and bullying.

But it was Stephen A. Smith’s response that shocked many: while backing Gaines’ overall stance, he called her comparison to Nassar “unacceptable and cruel.”

“Respectfully, Gaines, I was with you… until that last quote,” Smith said during his June 9 podcast. “Bringing up Larry Nassar — one of the most vile human beings we’ve ever seen — that was too far. You lost all credibility.”

Smith continued:

“Whatever disagreements you have with Simone Biles, nothing justified bringing up her trauma. That’s not just wrong — that’s cruel.”

A Nation Divided on the Issue

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Despite his criticism of Gaines’ Nassar comparison, Smith didn’t hold back on the broader debate around trans inclusion in sports.

“A lot of women out there feel exactly the way Riley Gaines does,” he said. “Whether people agree or not, that doesn’t make their concerns invalid.”

Gaines has long opposed the inclusion of trans women in female sports divisions, especially after racing against Lia Thomas in 2022. Her stance has made her a lightning rod in America’s ongoing cultural clash over gender identity, fairness, and inclusion.

Simone Biles Stands Her Ground

Biles, never one to shy away from speaking truth to power, slammed Gaines for what she described as transphobic bullying:

“You’re truly sick. All this campaigning because you lost a race?” Biles wrote on X. “You should be uplifting the trans community or finding ways to make sports inclusive. Maybe a transgender category in all sports!”

She continued:

“But instead, you bully them. One thing’s for sure: no one in sports is safe with you around!”

What Happens Next?

Us Weekly has reached out to Gaines for comment. As of now, she has yet to respond publicly to Smith’s rebuke — or to the intensifying backlash over her remarks.

With Simone Biles advocating for compassion and inclusivity, and Riley Gaines pushing for strict gender-based competition, the debate over trans athletes in sports has reached a fever pitch — and with Stephen A. Smith now involved, it’s not going away anytime soon.

One thing is clear: the intersection of sports, identity, and equality is becoming one of the defining conversations of our time.