Many people associate the name of McKayla Maroney with one of two things — her amazing athletic performance, or the short-lived meme of her disappointed expression that became an Internet sensation some time ago.
However, the athlete has much more going on inside her head, and she has been going through some difficult times lately as she has had to deal with an issue that has become more and more prevalent across many industries — sexual assault.
Even though Larry Nassar, the former doctor of USA Gymnastics, her alleged abuser, is getting his deserved sentence, it looks like McKayla has a lot on her mind that she wants to share with the world, and there have been rumors that she is going to take the opportunity to speak up about that sometime soon.
This was reportedly met with negative responses within USA Gymnastics, as the organization saw that idea as a threat to its integrity. However, it looks like the reports were either false, or USA Gymnastics has realized what a terrible idea that would be, as the organization has issued a statement claiming that no fines will be sought from Maroney if she decided to speak publicly about her problems.
Some are speculating that this is a last-minute decision by USA Gymnastics meant to protect the organization itself, as the backlash from attempting to silence Maroney would probably be severe. Even more so when one considers the current climate where accusations of sexual misconduct are a hot and sensitive topic, with many new reports coming out on a practically daily basis.
Maroney initially shared her story on Twitter, but she had also signed a nondisclosure agreement with the organization in December 2016 after a big settlement, worth over $1 million.
However, with the MeToo movement gaining strength, it became essential to hear more about Maroney’s story.
Moreover, when the existence of the NDA was revealed, celebrities like Chrissy Teigen stepped out to offer their financial support.