Leslie Jones has been on quite a roller coaster lately, starting with some truly awful harassment on Twitter before having the happy ending of heading to Rio to help NBC with their Olympic coverage. Gabby Douglas, one of Team USA’s Final Five female gymnasts and a much celebrated Olympian, has faced an inordinate amount of online harassment for the entire Rio Games, being accused not being patriotic enough, being bitter over her teammates wins, and earning the nickname “Crabby Gabby.”
“Either it was about my hair or my hand not over my heart [on the medal podium] or I look depressed. … It was hurtful. It was hurtful. It was. It’s been kind of a lot to deal with,” Douglas said.
This did not sit well with Jones, who took to Twitter to defend Douglas from similar haters to the ones that plagued her, starting the hashtag #LOVE4GABBYUSA to encourage the Olympian.
Yo I just heard Gabby getting attacked on her page show her the love you showed me #LOVE4GABBYUSA send to @gabrielledoug
— Leslie Jones 🦋 (@Lesdoggg) August 15, 2016
In one of the instances where Twitter was used to build someone up instead of tearing them down, the hashtag took off like wildfire, with celebrities and other Twitter users sending their support to Douglas.
Shame that a young woman, who represented USA w/ grace for eight years, was treated so poorly by those she calls countrymen. #LOVE4GABBYUSA
— Adam Cubbage (@DACubbage) August 15, 2016
You are #BlackGirlMagic , You are a SHERO, you are an inspiration, thank you for being you ❤️🇺🇸✊🏾#LOVE4GABBYUSA pic.twitter.com/PPMyt2m9Rw
— B. (@bnicole322) August 15, 2016
True story: Yesterday my 3 yr old announced that her name is now GabbyDouglas Rhimes. #LOVE4GABBYUSA @gabrielledoug pic.twitter.com/cp1G5SnYoT
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) August 15, 2016
From one Gabby to another, I know. I KNOW! @gabrielledoug U are loved. U are celebrated. U are a queen & we support u! #LOVEFORGABBYUSA ❤❤❤
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) August 15, 2016
@gabrielledoug is a patriot, a role model, an incredible athlete and a QUEEN. And queens > trolls. Just so we're clear. #LOVE4GABBYUSA
— Ali Standish (Updates only!) (@AliStandish) August 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/danrothweil/status/765254022718554116
https://twitter.com/ceatoncopeland/status/765254272632053760
https://twitter.com/KSC8S/status/765233963522752512
https://twitter.com/AndreaDBergman/status/765253964497457152
Leap right over your haters with that 180 degree spilt @gabrielledoug. #BlackGirlMagic #LOVE4GABBYUSA 💜💜 pic.twitter.com/1Ea7DLjYer
— Ben VEREEN it’s long! (@dmcleod28) August 15, 2016
Douglas was moved by the outpouring of support, tweeting her thanks to Jones and the rest of Twitter’s do-gooders.
Thank u so much for all the love! My heart is full! @Lesdoggg ❤️ I love you guys!❣😘😍
— Gabby Douglas (@gabrielledoug) August 15, 2016
Let’s all try to be a little kinder, shall we?
(Via The Hollywood Reporter)