In wake of the most recent Hollywood sex scandal surrounding movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s decades-long history with sexual harassment, abuse and rape, women (and men) across the internet are plastering social media with two simple words this week: me too.
The movement started trending on Sunday in an effort to shine a light on the magnitude of the problem that is sexual misconduct towards women, and it has completely taken on a life of its own.
Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney joined the movement on Wednesday morning, tweeting a photo document of her personal thoughts on the matter, and posting it with the hashtag, #MeToo.
#MeToo pic.twitter.com/lYXaDTuOsS
— mckayla (@McKaylaMaroney) October 18, 2017
The 21-year-old said that the widespread acceptance and conversation about sexual abuse over the last week has encouraged her in speaking publicly about her own personal experience.
Former USA Gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar, has been accused of assaulting at least 140 girls and women, who were abused under the guise of his medical treatment and care.
McKayla Maroney was one of Nassar’s victims.
Instagram
The former gymnast wrote on Twitter that she had been sexually abused by Nassar for several years, beginning when she was just 13 years old, after being invited to a national team training camp.
The abuse continued until 2016, when she left the sport altogether.
“It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was ‘treated,’” Maroney wrote.
“Treatment” happened prior to Maroney and her team winning Olympic gold in London in 2012. It also happened before she won her personal silver medal.