Olympic gymnast Simone Biles recently detailed a peculiar exchange with an influencer on TikTok, an interaction that ultimately led her to unfollow the social media personality. Biles, 29, described the incident, which occurred a few years ago, as the "weirdest interaction."
According to Biles, she had been following the influencer for some time, drawn to her style and meticulously maintained hair. The gymnast explained that she was particularly attuned to hair care after facing criticism about her own hairstyle during a competition in July 2024, where she publicly addressed comments that described her locks as a "hot mess" and cautioned against commenting on Black women's hair.
Inspired by the influencer's hair, Biles reached out to inquire about her hairstylist's contact information. However, the response she received was unexpected. The influencer stated that her manager handled appointments and that she would need to ask her manager for the contact details. Biles expressed confusion, questioning why the influencer wouldn't have direct contact information or Instagram handle for her hairstylist.
Biles interpreted this response as an attempt to "gatekeep" her stylist, suspecting the influencer feared Biles might "steal" them. The gymnast emphasized that she lives in a different state and travels frequently, suggesting her interest was only if she happened to be in the area. She ultimately unfollowed the influencer, stating she did not want that kind of negativity in her life.
The video resonated with many viewers, who agreed in the comment section that the interaction was unusual. Comments pointed out the condescending tone of the influencer's reply and the concept of "gatekeeping" as detrimental. Some users humorously linked the incident to Biles' potential return to gymnastics, joking that the influencer would be to blame if Biles did not compete in 2028.
This account follows recent speculation about a possible return for Biles in the 2028 Olympics. She had shared photos from inside a gymnastics training gym, the World Champions Centre, owned by her parents in Texas. Accompanying images showed her locker filled with personal items and what appeared to be gymnastic equipment, captioned "Just how I left it." Biles has not publicly confirmed or denied plans for a 2028 comeback.