Olympian silver medal winner Lauren Gibbs decried the "hate" she got from both sides for posting a photo of herself and Ivanka Trump on social media, and then for taking it down later.
Here's what happened
President Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump participated in the closing ceremonies at the Olympics, but when Gibbs posted a photo of themselves celebrating, she says she was attacked by Trump critics on social media.
One exchange accused her of being "used for propaganda." After she pointed out that she asked for the photo, another said, "Lauren Gibbs got played like a fiddle. Trump’s love [sic] photo ops with uneducated, unsuspecting blacks."
Gibbs responded, "it is funny because the people you hate so much treated me with more respect than you have. I have two degrees and the ability to think for myself."
it is funny because the people you hate so much treated me with more respect than you have. I have two degrees and the ability to think for myself.
— Lauren Gibbs (@lagibbs84) February 25, 2018
Another critic accused her of "normalizing" a destructive administration.
Her bobsledding partner defended Gibbs on her social media account, saying, "[She] and I work hard to ensure we're positive examples of our race, ethnicity, and gender."
"Choosing to spread love is never a bad thing, even if it's explaining bobsled to a politician's daughter. The only way to fight hated and bigotry is through love," she concluded.
Gibbs appeared to admit that she also got criticism from Trump supporters when she took the photo down.
"I deleted (by choice) the photo because I was tired of reading the hate being thrown back and forth," she tweeted. "Whether you hate me for posting or hate me for taking it down... you are the same... hate from either side is hate..."
Here's the video of Gibbs talking about her Olympics experience:
Carlos Garcia
Staff Writer
