RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – An NBC gymnastics announcer has come under fire on social media over comments he made about the adoptive parents of American gymnast Simone Biles.
The 19-year-old gymnast and her younger sister were adopted by their maternal grandfather, Ron Biles, and his wife, Nellie, after spending time in foster care. Simone Biles refers to them as her parents.
Announcer Al Trautwig, though, on air has referred to Nellie and Ron as Simone’s grandparents.
When a woman tweeted to Trautwig that he should refer to Ron and Nellie as her parents, Trautwig tweeted back: “They may be mom and dad but they are NOT her parents.”
Trautwig later deleted the tweet.