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  • Chrissy Teigen Offers to Pay $100K Fine to Let McKayla Maroney Testify Against Abuser

Chrissy Teigen Offers to Pay $100K Fine to Let McKayla Maroney Testify Against Abuser

January 18, 2018

  •  Larry Nassar is an Olympics doctor who works with multiple gymnasts and is currently being sentenced for sexually assaulting or raping up to 140 victims who have come forward. One of those victims is McKayla Maroney — a gymnast who was almost stopped from testifying in court due to an existing NDA that was part of a legal agreement after the successful lawsuit of the Olympics Committee. The agreement would force Maroney to pay $100,000 if she spoke up. The world was understandably disgusted by this obvious attempt to silence an abuse victim — and Chrissy Teigen decided to do something about it, offering to pay the fine if Maroney decided to speak.

  • Teigen’s offer made impressive waves. It showed that we don’t have to just accept existing norms that allow abusers to continue avoiding consequence. Maroney said: “I’m shocked by your generosity, and I just want you to know how much hope your words bring to all of us! I just can’t get over the fact that someone I don’t personally know is sticking up for me, let alone a strong woman that I’ve looked up to for years!” So, praised was Teigen’s offer that it actually shamed the USA Gymnastics Committee into dropping the charge. Their statement said — USA Gymnastics encourages McKayla and anyone who has been abused to speak out. 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. What do you think? Should the USA Gymnastics Committee have dropped this earlier? Let us know in the comments. Follow us on Twitter at @WhatsTrending.