Stephanie Rice Sparks Fan Concern After Dubai Move and Religious Devotion

Former Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Rice has prompted concern among her fans following her relocation to Dubai and embrace of evangelical Christianity. Some followers have voiced worries that the 38-year-old athlete may have been "brainwashed" after a series of significant life changes.

Rice, who has adopted her pastor husband Mark Lassey's last name, recently shared on Instagram that she declined a CEO position, which she described as her dream job, because she felt God was instructing her to resign. Despite this decision leaving her without employment or savings, Rice expressed belief that divine guidance would lead to a prosperous future.

"I was offered to become CEO, my dream position... but God asked me to resign, I obeyed," she wrote in a post. Her explanation led to confusion among some followers, prompting Rice to post a video addressing the criticism. "There are a lot of people that have been commenting on my posts like, 'That's stupid,'" she stated. "And I'm like, 'You don't get it, you just don't get it.'"

Rice became emotional while reading from her bible and discussing the uncertainty of her current situation, anticipating sharing her eventual success story with her audience. However, the video intensified backlash, with some questioning her religious devotion.

"The delusion is so amazing babe!" one user commented, while another wrote, "Poor brainwashed girl." Others advised her to "get some help" or suggested she had "lost the plot" and been "sucked into a religious cult."

Conversely, many users expressed support for Rice's choices. "I get it babe! God has so many blessings coming your way. He is so faithful," one supporter wrote. Another added, "How blessed are we that we actually understand it's beyond our comprehension. So encouraging, amazing."

Rice's decision to leave her job came after she moved to Dubai in 2023 with a one-way ticket to start a new life centered on her faith. She acknowledged the risk in abandoning her existing Instagram following to build a new community, stating, "I'd rather start again knowing the people joining now want to be a part of the story God's writing, not the one that's already been written."

She has candidly reflected on her relationship with success, noting that despite winning Olympic gold and earning millions, she experienced periods of loss and found Jesus. "And now, at 38, I'm rebuilding my career all over again. On the outside I had it all. Don't get me wrong. It was incredible. But somewhere along the way, I started tying my value to my success," she shared. She attributed her Christian faith as a source of strength through difficult times, including public scrutiny and business failures.

Rice sold her possessions and moved to Dubai without a job or a concrete plan. She eventually secured a role as a company director, earning a substantial income. It was in this position that she was offered the CEO role, which she ultimately declined at God's perceived direction.

"It's been one of the most testing seasons of my life, but I trust God and I've learned I can't force or speed up his plans or when he opens the next door. But I can control what I do in the meantime," she wrote.

Rice is now using her new account to promote business consulting services, focusing on women she believes have untapped potential. She also shared messages of encouragement for those facing setbacks.

Rice, who won three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, married Mark Lassey, a pastor, in January 2025. The couple met in early 2024 and became engaged after seven months of dating. Lassey has three sons from a previous relationship.