Gabby Douglas draws fire for racism claim
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Has Gabby Douglas gone from America’s sweetheart to America’s lightning rod?
The Olympic gold medalist is under fire after she said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that she was the victim of racism at the gym where she trained in Virginia Beach.
She told Winfrey about one incident in which a teammate at Excalibur Gymnastics told her to do something because she was their slave.
“I definitely felt isolated,” Douglas said in the interview. “I felt, ‘Why do I deserve this? Is it because I’m black?’ ”
Her former coach and others associated with Excalibur blasted the claim.
“Really, I was shocked and very hurt,” former coach Dena Walker told NewsChannel 3 in Hampton Roads.
Gustavo Moure, CEO of Excalibur, went even further, suggesting that Douglas was lying.
“I wish to defend the children that trained with her and supported her when she attacks them with these allegations,” he told E! News. “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,” he told GymNewstics.com. “We’ve had more African-Americans in elite and on the national team than any other gym in the country.”
Former teammates also blasted her.
“This is absolutely ridiculous,” Randy Stageburg, a former National Team member, told GymNewstics.com. “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,” he said.
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306 comments Add your comment
RAMZAD
August 29th, 2012
12:06 pm
White folks should also remember that in a population sense- you are weakening statistically. It does not make sense to continue hug up racism and deny its existence at the same time. You are going to have to share America with all the minorities here and the ones that are coming. It only make sense to get to know your neighbor. Insulation from minorities is not an option.
Smarter than ANY Republican
August 29th, 2012
12:06 pm
“As I entered the store the othe day the man behind the register quiped. “Goodmorning Cracker.” I kindly replied. “Goodmorning Negro.” Does this make us both racist.. I digress get over it people we have other things to worry about…….Bless”
Racist no…sounding ignorant and uneducated….yes…BOTH of you…
Arlene
August 29th, 2012
12:06 pm
People who are guilty of racism never want to admit it exists. They attack those who experience it as a cover-up for their own faults.
Kay
August 29th, 2012
12:07 pm
I live in Virginia, and it is pretty white/black here. It was a real eye opener to me.
Carz
August 29th, 2012
12:07 pm
It does exist. just not in this case.
RAMZAD
August 29th, 2012
12:09 pm
MATT: Unfortunately you learned what your grandparents and parents told you about minorities too well.
You are pretty much blind.
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:11 pm
who cares?get back to your job scrubbing some toilets
clear and concise heed my advice
August 29th, 2012
12:12 pm
White men can’t jump=funny
Black men can’t play QB=racist
Racism exists alright!! But it’s not just whitey that is to blame!!! My ancestors are guilty of terrible things when it comes to equality, but I’m not my ancestors and two wrongs have NEVER made a right. I see more accusations of racism far more than I see actual acts of racism. In my opinion, the less it is spoken about, the less it happens or becomes an issue. Judge your fellow man by his or her actions and not their race/gender and prejudice WILL be a thing of the past. HOWEVER, looking for it in every day life will never allow it to fade away. YOUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES HOW FAR YOU WILL GO IN LIFE!!! Write that on your mirror and read it out loud every morning and your life will improve tenfold. Go Falcons!!!
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:13 pm
want to see racism?
go to any post office,see 99%blacks that work there.
im sure if it was 99%white jesse jackson be there,but thats okay now isnt it?
Carz
August 29th, 2012
12:14 pm
Ramzad is a white dude in disguise. Kudos, Ramzad. You fooled me for a while.
Eric
August 29th, 2012
12:15 pm
I believe the incident did happen. She is a child. Not sure what her age was when the incident happened but I do know for sure children can be brutally honest.
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:16 pm
black men cant run long distances either
good for short distances,runnng from the cops
say what you want but blacks make up 19%of the population yet make up 70%of the crime
you do the math
call it racism if you want those are just the facts
Double Zero Eight
August 29th, 2012
12:17 pm
Racism will always be among us. Hate and prejudice
are passed down from one generation to another.
It exists in all the races. Anyone that does not think so
is naive.
Carz
August 29th, 2012
12:18 pm
Kenyans are good distance runners.
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:18 pm
white man calls a black man the n word =racism
black man calling another black man the n word =okay
idiots both ways
Reality
August 29th, 2012
12:21 pm
Ramzad- of course our numbers are dwindling. It’s not a status symbol in our community to see how many kids we can father by different mothers. It’s not our goal to have 5 kids we can’t take of and then stick our hand out because we are dirt poor and then ask the white man (who you love to point the finger out) to pay for you. Hispanics probably out number all of us!! What a great deal they have!!! Come to America where it’s a better standard of living, don’t actually come here legally, don’t have to pay for insurance (because the white man will do it) and not only will we provide your child with a free education but we will pick your kid up and take him to school and provide them with meals at a reduced cost. We will also make sure that signs, atms, etc. are in your language.
How do you think the roads in the projects are still useable? The airport? Pretty much everything that is taxable is paid for?? The black community?? HA!! Careful to bite the hand that feeds you too hard.
I figure by the time my kids have kids whites will be on level with blacks and hispanics. Everyone will be financially strapped because the whites can’t afford to continue to pay for their own families AND yours. Working hard is already becoming a moot point because I’m just going to give that extra money to someone else.
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:21 pm
time has changed
th 80s,90s and 200s the black man was discriminated
now 2012 its the white man because companies have to meet there quoto instead of hiring the best candidate reguardless of color
if they hired the best candidiate instead of meeting quota,how many blacks would never have a job except in sports?
hmmmmmmmmmm
pat
August 29th, 2012
12:23 pm
She is 16 and an instant star. That is very difficult for her I am sure. She won 2 gold medals for our country. Let’s celebrate that and cut the poor kid some slack.
Ralph
August 29th, 2012
12:23 pm
She was just too good to be true. Good luck Gabby, with your new attitude you’ll need it.
KNel
August 29th, 2012
12:24 pm
Why is it that black people are attacked for even speaking about racism?
colorfull
August 29th, 2012
12:24 pm
he sounded angry…it must be true….to those who’ve never experienced it or have never been exposed to someone else’s life outside of your culture…please
5150 UOAD`
August 29th, 2012
12:25 pm
WOW……………an no White person at a HBC has ever felt racism?
Talk to hank Aaron.
Being the 1st Black anything is not easy but it is not always racism.
Running your mouth on HARPO isn’t the best way to get people in your corner.
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:25 pm
roomeys running mate ryan dated a black woman
should not make a difference but wonder who wont vote for roomney now/
Reality Check
August 29th, 2012
12:26 pm
Disappointed you are obviously blind. Being an Olympic gold medalist has nothing to do with the obstacles and ignorance she endured to get there. The ignorance in this country is amazing. Gabby did not play any race card, she told a personal account about an experience she had at a gym she trained at. Gabby did not say the gym was racist, Gabby said a few team members made racists remarks. Who are you to tell her that her experience was not true. You should like many Americans who think slavery didn’t happen, or “oh it wasn’t that bad.” You are ignorant to think that racism is not present in today’s society.
@ DMR – The Trayvon Martin case was racially motivated, George Zimmerman has a violent criminal record that was concealed by his Father who was a judge. George Zimmerman was told not to follow Trayvon Martin…period. George Zimmerman was told by the Sanford Police department that “Neighborhood watch captains cannot carry firearms!” and lastly Trayvon Martin’s Father lived in the gated community. George Zimmerman wanted to kill and he did, sorry to say that race played a factor. I live 30 mins from Sanford,Fl and I can tell you first hand that Sanford,FL is stuck in the 1960’s.
I do agree that the Duke Rape Case is a perfect example of using the race card for the wrong reason.
Until America acknowledge it’s racist pass against all race, America will never heal as a nation. But yet America can acknowledge the Jewish holocaust, which never happened on American soil and can donate billions of dollars. There is something wrong with that picture.
ClimKaDiddleHopper
August 29th, 2012
12:27 pm
She is the spitting image of Sheldon Williams. Probably plays basketball at a higher level, too.
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:28 pm
5150 UOAD`
August 29th, 2012
12:25 pm
hank arron was not the first,you know very little dont you?
jackie robinson was
henry arron had it a lot better than jackie robinson,if u think not,ask joe torre
Matt
August 29th, 2012
12:29 pm
Ramzad- what did I say that was untrue? I’m blind? Sounds like the pot calling the kettle…white.
Two paths can be taken. The success story of the black man who rose up above growing up in “the hood” around drug dealers in one family home with 5 siblings and made something of himself. Or the one who uses their childhood as an excuse. Which one are you?
It’s not my responsibility or obligation to take care of the less fortunate because of something my great great grandparents may or may not have done. Does racism exist? I’m sure it does. If blacks don’t want to be grouped together as “thugs” then you can’t group white people together as white, ignorant, and/or blind bunch of people who owe your community something.
Randy from Newnan
August 29th, 2012
12:30 pm
Joe Cool is a hater from Coweta County. Hates anyone that does not think like him. That would be everyone.
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:30 pm
good thing wilt chamberlain was not a racist
never would have slept with over 100,000 women WHICH WERE WHITE
ssmoore
August 29th, 2012
12:30 pm
I like Oprah and yes I am a black woman, but she should have just retired. She is dealing with a failing network and she will do anything for rating.
Gabby is great and Oprah has no business focusing on her old gym for almost ten minutes. Never mentioned her grades, her friends and siblings.
Just mess for people to talk about! I believe Gabby, but Oprah made it worse.
Gabby’s mother need to protect her from Oprah and other people that are only looking out for themselves.
Oprah should have had the team on the show. Messy Oprah…
5150 UOAD`
August 29th, 2012
12:31 pm
who cares…………didn’t say Hank was the 1st black baseball player.
Hank was working on breaking the greatest White players record. Beating BABE came with a lot of HATE. yes Hank was the First HOMERUN KING to be Black.
RAMZAD
August 29th, 2012
12:32 pm
Fact is I am black, and I love white people. Individually, they are usually thoughtful, polite, helpful, friendly, passionate; just like people like other people to be. I frequently say “Thank the Lord for white people;” particularly when I stack them up next to some of my own- negros.”
However the same white person who helps you out at the dead of night would make sure you don’t get a job where he works or don’t get an apartment in the complex where she lives. The big problem is when white people group-think. They even have one big Group-think University called the Republican Party. When they get into the mob mentality it is usually lethal for minorities. From a group, they can kill a minorities soul in ten seconds flat. They have a special aptitude to be viscous on the human spirit.
Individually they will challenge racism, but in a group when the in-group out-group war starts racism is a panacea to everything. But white people are humans with all the evidence revealed in Romans 3:23. I have compassion on them, because they have picked up this mantle of superiority over other humans, and now in this new Dark Ages of our civilization they are stuck lugging it around.
eazye
August 29th, 2012
12:33 pm
exactly LEX. good comment.. that what i have been sayin’.. white people automatically get the benefit of the doubt………..they can do no wrong.sometimes i am embarrassed for my own white peoples……lol and i am white.
Ethics Advisor
August 29th, 2012
12:33 pm
Hatred and jealousy based on race is not one way, it just takes more than one to start the growth of this poisonous weed, and many to make it a tree. Let it die.
Galations 5
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(V) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a];(W) rather, serve one another(X) humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](Y) 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit,(Z) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(AA) 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.(AB) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want.(AC) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,(AD) you are not under the law.(AE)
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,(AF) impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.(AG) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(AH)
22 But the fruit(AI) of the Spirit is love,(AJ) joy, peace,(AK) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.(AL) Against such things there is no law.(AM) 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh(AN) with its passions and desires.(AO) 25 Since we live by the Spirit,(AP) let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,(AQ) provoking and envying each other.
Tired
August 29th, 2012
12:34 pm
Same old crap. Just a different day. Blacks are just as racist if not more!
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:35 pm
So i guess it must be racism why black people in new orleans chose to stay during katrina,looting stores,big screen tv,in 3ft.of flooded water,no power for days
then get rescused get 2000 visa cards go to houston which crime wave has tripled,and sit in fema trailers rent free for 7 years and complain when its time to get out
clear and concise heed my advice
August 29th, 2012
12:35 pm
I found proof of racism!!! Go to you tube and search south park wheel of fortune. And PLEASE have a sense of humor!!!! YOUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES HOW FAR YOU WILL GO IN LIFE!!!!
eazye
August 29th, 2012
12:37 pm
another thing.. the only problem i have with gabby is that she needs braces.. thats abt it..
rachel
August 29th, 2012
12:37 pm
I think Gabby shouldn’t have wasted her time on television to talk about that. Everyone gets bullied, and it is not because of race. She may have taken “you are a slave” out of context. Many kids joke around about things like that.
RAMZAD
August 29th, 2012
12:39 pm
MATT: I agree that you should not have to take responsibility for what your great and grandfather started. However, you can take a new position to help rid the country of racism. You want a fee
card to pass. I did not do it. It is not my fault. leave me alone.
That is not good enough. You are responsible to the extent that you maintain the vision of an
America where blacks live downtown in hovels and you live uptown in your perch, and think that is just the way it is supposed to be. Your grand father and great grand father started racism, and it is still doing something terrible back here, and you have a duty to help end it.
MO
August 29th, 2012
12:41 pm
Enter your comments here
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:41 pm
5150 UOAD`
August 29th, 2012
12:31 pm
and how do you know arron did not use peds as well.
WE DONT BECAUSE IT WAS AROUND BACK THEN JUST AS IT IS NOW
WILT CHAMBERLAIN WAS MORE HATRED,BILL RUSSELL THAN HANK ARRON WAS.
LIKE I SAID GO ASK JOE TORRE AND QUIT WATCHING FOX NEWS IF U WANT THE TRUTH
FUNNY WHEN HE HIT THE HR,THERE WAS WHITE PEOPLE FOLLOWING HIM ROUND THE BASES YET YOU SAY IT WAS RACIST.IF THIS WAS THE CASE WHERE WAS THE KKKK?NEVER HAD A CROSS BURNED IN HIS FRONT YARD
Tierno
August 29th, 2012
12:41 pm
This is such a crock. Gabby never made any claim of racism. Gabby never said anyone bullied her. She said she felt isolated and that she wondered if the treatment she experienced was based on her race. We may not like it, but that is how she felt.The media – including Oprah – are attributing their own interpretations to Gabby and Gabby is being blamed for it. If the media really wants to jump on someone about this, jump on Oprah. She’s the one that twisted Gabby’s words and she’s the one that turned what Gabby actually said into what appeared to a claim that Gabby was bullied by racist.
Tap Out
August 29th, 2012
12:42 pm
” 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.” This quote is the best defense of Gabby’s comment.
Ya Mama
August 29th, 2012
12:42 pm
Hey white people! Stop pretending like you are not racist! Cause you are!
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:43 pm
breaking news……15 blacks were arrested in new orleans for looting.
where all the white people at?lol
let's be real
August 29th, 2012
12:43 pm
People racism is a leave and kicking. I hate when some people try to make ” the race card ” comment. Walk in a victim’s shoes before you start mouthing off. Racists are everywhere!!!!
who cares
August 29th, 2012
12:44 pm
amazing how black people are throwing out the race card yet the want to date white women
hillarious
Lady Tee
August 29th, 2012
12:45 pm
These same hilbilies that are whining… “stop playing the race card” are the people who raise the Timothy McVeighs and those other idiot killers like the one in Colorado!! YOU ARE THE REASON RACISM IS ALIVE AND WELL!! Gabby was asked a QUESTION and she answered it….PERIOD!
Matt
August 29th, 2012
12:45 pm
Ramzad- it’s lethal because it requires everyone to be responsible for themself. Again, it is not my obligation or responsibility to make sure that the minority communities are ok. Asians don’t seem to have a problem excelling in this country. Middle Easterners seem to be doing just fine. Do you teach your kids to work hard and accept responsibility for their own actions or do you teach them to do whatever they want because someone else will fix their problems for them.
THe projects and inner city poor families are riddled with one parent homes who have multiple kids. IT IS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO BAIL THEM OUT. Behavior is not changed when accountablity is erased.
Everyone cannot be on a level playing field, it’s just not possible, uless of course you lower the playing field.