Riley Gaines Called ‘American Hero of All Girls Everywhere’ By Hollywood Star

Actor and comedian Rob Schneider publicly voiced his support for women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines on Friday, praising her efforts following a recent exchange between Gaines and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.

The comment came after days of public debate that prompted USA Gymnastics to announce it is re-evaluating its policy on transgender athletes.

Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer, has become a prominent figure in the national discussion surrounding fairness in women’s sports, particularly regarding the inclusion of biological males in female competition.

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The issue reignited over the past week following online criticism from Biles, leading to backlash against the gymnast.

@Riley_Gaines_ You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender… https://t.co/pjpzuZ0AlO

— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 6, 2025

After several days of heightened media attention and online criticism, Biles posted a statement addressing the controversy.

I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport. The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn’t help for me…

— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 10, 2025

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USA Gymnastics also issued a statement to Fox News, confirming it is “reviewing its current transgender policy.”

“We are committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all athletes while balancing fairness in competition,” the organization stated.

“We are currently reassessing our transgender participation policies to ensure they align with our values and mission.”

Now they did specify this was outside of the “Elite” level – the highest level in US gymnastics. (Elites are the athletes that vie for USA Team berths and spots on World Championship and Olympic Teams.)

What this means (or meant?) is that up to level 10, it was just fine for… pic.twitter.com/udjCttwLlB

— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) June 7, 2025

Schneider, known for roles in multiple Adam Sandler films and for his outspoken support of conservative viewpoints, added his voice to the conversation via a post on X.

“I am proud to call Riley Gaines my biological female friend,” Schneider wrote.

“And an American hero of all girls everywhere!”

I am proud to call Riley Gaines my biological female friend.
And an American hero of all girls everywhere! https://t.co/9oVrYrttms

— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) June 13, 2025

The post quickly gained traction among her supporters, with many praising Schneider for speaking out in defense of women’s sports.

The exchange came days after Gaines criticized Biles for a post that many interpreted as downplaying the efforts to maintain fairness in women’s sports categories.

In response, Biles received widespread criticism across social media platforms.

High-profile political commentators, including Keith Olbermann and Jemele Hill, defended Biles, though they represented a minority viewpoint in the broader discussion.

Following the controversy, Biles released a social media statement attributed to her public relations team.

The statement did not directly address Gaines or her remarks but suggested the Olympic athlete supports inclusion while acknowledging the complexity of the issue.

The growing list of public figures weighing in on transgender participation in women’s sports continues to expand, with prominent conservatives applauding efforts like those of Gaines.

USA Gymnastics’ announcement marks one of the latest instances of a major sports organization reviewing its internal policies following public scrutiny.

Gaines, who competed at the University of Kentucky, has been active in speaking at universities and legislative hearings around the country.

She has regularly called on governing bodies in athletics to clarify and enforce rules that protect the integrity of women’s competition.

The endorsement from Schneider signals another example of individuals within the entertainment industry diverging from the predominant cultural narrative in Hollywood.

While most public figures have remained silent or sided with inclusion efforts, Schneider’s post adds a rare voice of dissent in a typically left-leaning industry.

As the debate continues across political and cultural lines, USA Gymnastics has not provided a timeline for its policy review but said it would engage with stakeholders and experts before making any formal changes.

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