Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Culture
CultureEditor's PicksEntertainmentSports

Gabby Douglas a ‘Sorry American’ for National Anthem Response, but Michael Phelps’ Laughter is ‘So Moving’

By | Published on August 10, 2016
CommentsComments (0) Add ABS as a preferred source on Google i
Michael Phelps laughs on Olympic podium during U.S. national anthem, Simone Biles stands beside Gabby Douglas and Laurie Hernandez during anthem (AP)

Michael Phelps laughs on Olympic podium during U.S. national anthem, Simone Biles stands beside Gabby Douglas and Laurie Hernandez during the anthem. Douglas stands at attention. (AP)

Gabby Douglas and Michael Phelps both won gold at the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Aug. 9. Douglas and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team won gold in the team final while Phelps earned his 20th gold medal for the 200-meter butterfly final.

Both Olympians caught Twitter’s attention for their reactions during their respective medal ceremonies. As the American national anthem played, Douglas was slammed for not placing her hand over her heart like her teammates while many found joy in Phelp’s laughter at the song.

The celebrated moment for the 20-year-old gymnast quickly turned sour as Twitter went from cheering her on to calling her disrespectful.

Max Johnson demanded the athlete “show some pride and respect” by placing her hand over her heart.

https://twitter.com/trueblueaggie12/status/763132477359529985

Another user called Douglas a “sorry American.”

https://twitter.com/_TXZS/status/763225057917177856

Charlie Jackson said it was “not a good look.”

https://twitter.com/glenn_chuck/status/763130561623912448

Melissa Tippets said she was “so disgusted” by the star’s “blatant disrespect” for America and thought if Douglas wouldn’t place her hand over her heart, she should exit the podium.

https://twitter.com/melissatippets1/status/763252072464601088

Douglas later responded to the backlash, saying she “never meant any disrespect and apologize if I offended anyone.”

“I’m so overwhelmed at what our team accomplished today and overjoyed that we were able to bring home another gold for our country!”

However, Phelps did not receive the same backlash that Douglas did.

In response to Tippets’ post, Larry Watts asked if the swimmer’s laughter during the anthem as his medal ceremony was also disrespectful “or because he was white you do not care?”

https://twitter.com/melissatippets1/status/763447233790357504

Tippets said it was not race related.

Phelps began laughing at the national anthem lyric, “Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave.” For Baltimore natives, it’s traditional for fans at Orioles baseball games to yell “O” at that point in the song, according to US News. As someone who hails from the Maryland city, Phelps heard the shout and began laughing.

“My boys from Baltimore were down on the other end, and back in Maryland, we all say ‘O’ for the Orioles during that part of the national anthem,” he told NBC. “And all of the sudden I hear them roar ‘O’ and I knew exactly where it came from, and I just lost it because those guys came down from Baltimore and New York City to be here, and it’s just special to see those guys in the stands.”

Twitter thought Phelp’s response was all in good fun.

Olympic figure skater Polina Edmunds called the reaction “pure joy.”

@KyleWIIM thought the swimmer – who went on to win his 21st gold medal an hour later – was a legend for laughing as his competitors stood beside him.

@caileyrobs called Phelp’s actions “so moving.”

 

The ABS Newsletter — Stories that matter, in your inbox.

Independent journalism still matters.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

The wider picture isn't any steadier. Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under, it's rarely the ones built to center a Black perspective from the ground up that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Latest from Atlanta Black Star

Back to top