Simone Biles recently found herself in hot water after wearing a Green Bay Packers jacket to a Chicago Bears game while supporting her husband, Jonathan Owens. NFL fans were quick to call out the Olympic gold medalist for this major sports fashion faux pas. The two teams have a long-standing rivalry, making Biles’ choice of attire particularly tone-deaf.
One fan online even went as far as to say, “It’s ridiculously unaware of your surroundings and insulting to her husband.” The jacket featured action shots of Owens, as well as the prominent green Packers logo on the shoulder pad. This choice of clothing did not sit well with Bears fans or those who understand the intensity of the Packers-Bears rivalry.
Criticism of Biles’ fashion choice flooded social media platforms, with one user commenting, “With all due respect, Simone Biles gotta throw that jacket in the trash ASAP.” Another questioned how she even managed to get into the game wearing such attire. Despite the backlash, some defended Biles, citing her status as one of the greatest Olympians and her support for her husband as reasons for overlooking the wardrobe mishap.
In a TikTok video for the NFL, Biles attempted to address Chicago fans by pushing the jacket off her shoulders to reveal a black sleeveless romper underneath. She greeted the camera with a “What’s up, Chicago? Go Bears!” This gesture, however, did not seem to appease all fans, with NBC Sports captioning the video as “The Bears’ newest fan… Simone Biles!”
This is not the first time Biles has had to defend her husband in the public eye. Previously, she stood up for Owens when fans criticized him for wearing her gold medals in a photo. Biles emphasized that she had shared her medals with all her family members for pictures and urged people not to make assumptions about their relationship.
While Simone Biles may be a celebrated athlete, her recent fashion misstep at the Bears game has sparked controversy and criticism. It serves as a reminder that even the most talented individuals are not immune to public scrutiny when it comes to social decorum and awareness of their surroundings.