Chicago Bears Safety Jonathan Owens Shares Simone Biles Apology in Trans Athlete Dispute

The controversy over transgender athletes in women's sports escalated after Riley Gaines criticized the participation of a transgender pitcher on a Minnesota high school softball team, prompting a strong response from Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. Biles initially called Gaines a "bully" and a "sore loser" on social media, which led to significant backlash and widespread debate about competitive fairness and inclusion. In response, Biles issued a public apology and clarified that she supports both competitive equity and inclusivity, emphasizing the complexity of the issue and advocating for empathy and respect. Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, Biles' husband, showed his support by resharing her apology post on his social media, marking his first public involvement in the dispute. Owens' gesture was seen as an endorsement of Biles' conciliatory tone, which called for sports organizations to develop rules balancing fairness and inclusion. The exchange has drawn national attention, highlighting the sensitive and ongoing debate about transgender athletes' participation in sports.