📰 SHE WAITS FOR YEARS TO HAVE THE LAST WORD: Simone Biles Breaks Her Silence on Charlie Kirk, and Karoline Leavitt Sends a Five-Word Message That Fans Can’t Stop Admiring

For years, she said nothing. After Charlie Kirk — the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA — publicly branded Simone Biles a “national disgrace” in 2021, the gymnastics superstar chose silence. She withdrew from the verbal sparring, even as critics piled on and supporters urged her to speak out. For Simone Biles, the wounds ran deep, and the words cut sharper than the medals she had earned could protect.

Now, in the wake of Kirk’s sudden death, Biles has finally spoken. And what she said has shaken both the sports world and the wider public conversation about respect, mental health, and the cost of public ridicule.

The 2021 Moment That Sparked a Rift

The feud traces back to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when Biles stunned the world by withdrawing from multiple competitions after experiencing “twisties” — a dangerous mental block in gymnastics that disrupts air awareness. It was a decision rooted in safety and mental health, applauded by many but derided by some.

One of the loudest voices of condemnation came from Charlie Kirk. He unleashed a tirade on his platform, calling Biles “selfish,” “immature,” and, most infamously, a “national disgrace.” The words went viral, and while Biles maintained her composure publicly, insiders say the comments left her devastated. For someone who had trained a lifetime to represent her country with honor, the label “disgrace” was a wound that never fully healed.

Silence Turned Into Strength

In the years since, Biles focused on her sport, her advocacy for mental health, and her personal life, marrying NFL player Jonathan Owens and returning triumphantly to competition. Yet through it all, she never directly addressed Kirk’s insults.

That changed after Kirk’s passing in September 2025. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Biles finally broke her silence:

“His words haunted me for years. They made me question my worth, my strength, even my right to call myself a champion. I carried that pain quietly. Today, I need to release it. No one should have to endure the kind of ridicule that can follow you into your darkest moments. I survived. But it was never easy.”

The post was raw, emotional, and deeply personal. It was not triumphant or celebratory, but rather an unburdening — an acknowledgment of suffering that resonated with millions.

“The Bravest and Most Necessary Response”

The reaction was immediate and overwhelming. Within hours, Biles’s post had been shared millions of times, with hashtags like #WeStandWithSimone trending worldwide. Sports journalists hailed it as “the bravest and most necessary response in sports history,” a moment where an athlete reclaimed her narrative after years of carrying unspoken pain.

Mental health advocates praised Biles for once again putting the spotlight on the emotional toll of public shaming. Fans flooded her feed with messages of support: “You’re not a disgrace, you’re our inspiration.”

Enter Karoline Leavitt

But while Biles’s words reverberated across the globe, another figure unexpectedly grabbed the spotlight: Karoline Leavitt, the Republican political strategist and former congressional candidate. Known for her fiery presence in conservative media, Leavitt shocked many with a five-word message of support to Biles.

On X (formerly Twitter), Leavitt wrote simply:

“You never owed him silence.”

The words struck a chord. Coming from someone with political ties often associated with Kirk’s movement, the message represented a rare bridge — an acknowledgment that no matter one’s political stance, personal cruelty has consequences.

Fans Can’t Stop Admiring the Five Words

The brevity of Leavitt’s comment only amplified its impact. Thousands reposted it, calling it “unexpected,” “refreshing,” and “powerful in its simplicity.” One fan commented: “Those five words said everything. Simone didn’t owe anyone her silence. She owed herself peace.”

Even critics of Leavitt admitted the statement carried weight. Analysts noted that her words not only supported Biles but also implicitly challenged the culture of mockery that Kirk often embodied.

The Larger Conversation

Together, Biles’s long-awaited post and Leavitt’s five-word message have reignited debates about mental health, respect in public discourse, and the power dynamics between athletes and commentators.

For years, athletes — particularly women — have been told to “ignore criticism” or “stay strong” in the face of public attacks. Biles’s post lays bare the damage such attacks can inflict. Leavitt’s comment, meanwhile, reframes the narrative: silence isn’t always noble; sometimes speaking up is the only way to heal.

A Defining Moment for Sports and Society

What started in 2021 as an insult hurled at a gymnast has, years later, transformed into one of the most significant cultural reckonings in sports history. By waiting to speak, Biles gave her words more weight than any immediate rebuttal ever could. By choosing honesty over anger, she turned pain into power.

And by lending her unexpected support, Karoline Leavitt reminded the world that empathy can come from surprising places — and that even five words, when spoken at the right time, can echo louder than years of silence.

Conclusion: The Last Word, At Last

For Simone Biles, the “last word” was never about revenge. It was about truth, release, and healing. Her emotional testimony will likely be remembered not just as a personal statement, but as a turning point in how athletes confront public ridicule.

For Karoline Leavitt, her five words may go down as one of the most admired and unexpected gestures in recent memory.

In the end, both voices — one long awaited, one brief and surprising — have combined to deliver a message bigger than sport or politics: pain deserves acknowledgment, and healing begins when silence is broken.