One Team USA Olympic gymnast may not be among dozens of victims who are sharing their stories of sexual abuse by former USA Gymnastics sports doctor Larry Nassar.
McKayla Maroney faces a $100,000 fine if she speaks about her claims that Nassar sexually abused her for seven years, due to a non-disclosure agreement in a $1.25 million settlement agreement with USA Gymnastics in December 2016, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Heartbreaking stories from survivors of abuse by Nassar were shared Tuesday, at the beginning of a four-day sentencing hearing of the longtime team doctor who was accused by 140 women and young girls of molesting them, including Maroney’s teammates, gymnasts Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, and Simone Biles.
Model Chrissy Teigen reached out to Maroney in a tweet.
“I would be absolutely honored to pay this fine for you,” Teigen told the Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast.
The entire principle of this should be fought – an NDA to stay quiet about this serial monster with over 140 accusers, but I would be absolutely honored to pay this fine for you, McKayla. pic.twitter.com/lsBEgEqZpD
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 16, 2018
According to CBS News:
In light of the settlement, Maroney might not make a public statement during the sentencing hearing. But she may have already violated the agreement when she revealed in October 2017 that Nassar sexually abused her from the time she was 13 to age 20.
“Dr. Nassar told me that I was receiving ‘medically necessary treatment that he had been performing on patients for over 30 years,'” Maroney said in a statement she originally posted on Twitter, but has since deleted.
Maroney is now suing USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University — where Nassar was also employed — and the United States Olympic Committee for allegedly forcing her to sign the confidentiality agreement.
USA Gymnastics stated that it would not penalize the gymnast, stating it “has not sought and will not seek any money” from Maroney.
“This has been her right and USA Gymnastics encourages McKayla and anyone who has been abused to speak out,” the statement said. “USA Gymnastics remains focused on our highest priority – the safety, health and well-being of our athletes and creating a culture that empowers and supports them.”
Statements from 98 victims and family members are expected to be read during the hearing. The 54-year-old disgraced sports doctor, who has already been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for child pornography crimes, has “pleaded guilty to molesting females with his hands at his Michigan State University office, his home and a Lansing-area gymnastics club,” according to CBS News.
Twitter users generally applauded Teigen’s genrous offer, as some agreed that the idea of non-disclosure agreements needs to be assessed.
I don’t always love your tweets but my goodness this is badass. Good for you.
— Patrick (@Peetreeman) January 16, 2018
Wow. Just when the whole world looks ugly and bad, good people step up.
— PetieM (@Petie001) January 16, 2018
Seems like NDAs in general shouldn’t be enforceable against disclosing criminal conduct. We need to get some more lawyers on this!
— Shailin Thomas (@shailinthomas) January 16, 2018
I rarely agree with you but thank you! This is great of you!
— KatieLady ?? (@Katiemadonna1) January 16, 2018
She has 1.25mm. She can pay her fine. Support all the less fortunate women without media spotlight who can’t.
— juice (@h3art_of_au) January 16, 2018
Such an increadibly generous and decent assistance to offer her. These are our champions. Damn that disgusting monster.
— Sarah Joy Brown (@sarahjoybrown) January 16, 2018
She can pay the fine, but it’s the fact that nobody should be paying for the truth to come out. What planet do we live on? Yas @crissyteigen tho. I agree.
— John Orozco (@JohnOrozco) January 17, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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