Olympic gold medallist Suni Lee has revealed that she has acquired “a lot hate” over her new relationship with boyfriend Jaylin Smith.
Lee, 18, went public along with her relationship final month, when she posted a photograph of the couple carrying matching black hoodies to Instagram. Within the caption, she added a single white coronary heart emoji.
Nevertheless, in keeping with Lee, who turned the primary Asian American gymnast to win the Olympic all-around competitors through the Tokyo Olympics, she has since skilled racist criticism, particularly from these within the Hmong American group, as a result of Smith is Black.
The gymnast addressed the racism the couple has encountered in response to a TikTok created by a person named Alix, who goes by the username @alixphom on the app, the place he describes himself as half Hmong.
In a clip posted late final month, Alix filmed himself pointing to the Instagram picture of Lee and Smith earlier than smiling and clapping for the couple. He concluded the transient supportive clip with a thumbs up.
Within the caption, Alix acknowledged that Lee was probably being judged by members of the Hmong group for relationship a Black man, earlier than reiterating his help for the athlete.
“I do know that Sunisa can be judged by sure eyes within the Hmong group as a result of her man is Black. LOVE is LOVE, it doesn’t matter what race or gender you might be. Maintain doing you QUEEN,” the TikToker wrote.
The video, which has been seen greater than 529,000 occasions, prompted a response from the 18-year-old gymnast, who revealed within the feedback that the video made her “so glad” as she has been coping with quite a lot of hatred since going public along with her relationship.
“This makes me so glad. I’ve acquired a lot hate. They help me when it’s useful for them, by no means relating to my happiness. Thanks!” Lee, a freshman at Auburn College, wrote.
Suni Lee responds to TikTok video supporting her relationship
(TikTok / Suni Lee)
The video additionally prompted reward from different viewers, with many expressing their very own help for Lee, who made historical past on the Tokyo Video games as the primary Hmong American athlete to compete for Staff USA on the Olympics.
“Lovely couple. So long as they’re glad, who cares what others assume. Love is love!” one individual wrote, whereas one other mentioned: “Maintain doing you lady! Those that actually help you’ll again you up and stick by your facet it doesn’t matter what.”
Lee’s remark comes after she beforehand revealed that she was the sufferer of a racially motivated assault in November. Chatting with PopSugar, the gymnast mentioned that she had been with a bunch of pals in Los Angeles when a bunch driving by in a automobile yelled racist slurs at her and her pals. Throughout the assault, Lee additionally mentioned that she was pepper sprayed by one of many automobile passengers.
Whereas reflecting on the incident, Lee mentioned that she was “so mad” however that there was “nothing I may do or management as a result of they skirted off”.
“I didn’t do something to them, and having the repute, it’s so arduous as a result of I didn’t wish to do something that might get me into hassle,” she added.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
