A sudden political-media firestorm has erupted this week after Olympic champion Simone Biles appeared to mock former White House press aide Karoline Leavitt and other conservative voices for opposing the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In response, Leavitt is now calling for drastic consequences—including the permanent revocation of Biles’s medals and a lifetime competition ban.

The controversy began when Biles, widely regarded as the most decorated gymnast in history, posted a series of cryptic but pointed Instagram stories over the weekend. In one now-deleted post, she referenced “reactionary meltdowns over a comedy show” and described the recent $16 million decision to cancel Colbert’s show as “the dumbest PR move of the year—but at least it exposed who really can’t take a joke.”

While Biles did not name individuals, conservative commentator Karoline Leavitt took swift offense.

“This is not just disrespectful—it’s un-American,” Leavitt wrote in a statement released Monday via her media team. “Simone Biles used her platform, granted to her by representing our nation, to ridicule Americans who are simply demanding transparency in media. Her behavior is beneath the dignity of an Olympic champion.”

Leavitt continued: “If athletes want to politicize their role, they should be prepared to lose the privileges that come with it. I urge the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee to consider stripping Simone Biles of all medals awarded under the American flag and to ban her from representing our nation ever again.”

The comments drew immediate backlash from across the political and sports spectrum.

Public Response and Media Fallout

Progressive commentators, fellow athletes, and even some moderate Republicans were quick to defend Biles. Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky tweeted, “We don’t punish excellence just because someone has an opinion. Simone is one of the greatest of all time—and she’s earned the right to speak freely.”

Meanwhile, former U.S. Gymnastics captain Aly Raisman called Leavitt’s response “vindictive and irrational,” adding, “This is exactly the kind of toxic policing of athletes’ voices we fought against during the Larry Nassar investigations.”

On the right, opinions were more divided. Fox News contributor Jesse Watters said that while he disagreed with Biles’s tone, “calling for a lifetime ban over an Instagram Story is wildly disproportionate.” However, Newsmax commentator Eric Bolling supported Leavitt’s call, arguing that “athletes should represent unity, not division.”

No Official Movement—Yet

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has not issued a statement on the matter, but sources within the organization told USA Today that no formal investigation or disciplinary review is currently underway. One official, speaking anonymously, noted, “Freedom of speech is not grounds for disqualification, no matter how unpopular that speech may be.”

Biles’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment. However, a close friend of the gymnast told The Athletic that “Simone is stunned by how this has been twisted. She was joking about corporate decisions—not starting a culture war.”

The Larger Picture: A Shifting Cultural Climate

This incident highlights the ongoing tension between sports figures and political media, especially in an era when athletes frequently use their platforms to speak on cultural and societal issues. From Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protests to Megan Rapinoe’s activism, and now to Simone Biles, the debate continues over where the line is drawn between personal expression and public accountability.

Karoline Leavitt, 27, a rising star in conservative politics and a former aide in the Trump administration, has built her brand on confronting “woke” narratives and criticizing what she calls “elitist hypocrisy in sports and entertainment.”

Whether this episode will fade or ignite further controversy remains to be seen. But for now, Simone Biles continues training for her next appearance at the U.S. Gymnastics National Championships—medals intact.