McKayla Maroney Won’t Be Fined $100,000 For Talking About Her Abuser
Since September 2016, former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar has been accused by 140 women, many who were minors, of sexual abuse. He was hit with several charges and pleaded guilty to molesting 10 girls. He’s already been sentenced to 60 years in prison on child porn charges, and faces another 25-to-life if enough of his alleged victims speak up in court. Nearly 100 women are expected to give victim impact statements in court.
The only problem was that some of his victims were threatened with a hefty $100,000 fine if they did speak out. Like former USA Gymnastics national team member McKayla Maroney, who accused Larry Nassar of molesting her starting at the age of 13. Many famous people offered to pay McKayla’s fine so she can testify, but they don’t have to do that now. USA Gymnastics released a statement last night assuring McKayla she wouldn’t get a $100,000 penalty for talking about Larry Nassar.
McKayla settled a lawsuit against USA Gymnastics in 2016 for $1.25 million. Part of that settlement stated McKayla would be fined $100,000 if she ever spoke about Larry Nassar. When Chrissy Teigen found this out, she offered to pay the fine so McKayla could help Larry the Pedo Guy get more prison time.
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
Chrissy didn’t have to worry about paying it all. She was soon joined with offers to help from The Good Place creator Michael Schur, Kristen Bell, and Susan Sarandon.
I’ll split it with you. https://t.co/yp00LwJsNQ
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) January 16, 2018
I'll 1/3 it with you guys. https://t.co/XasgyGEg6E
— Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) January 16, 2018
I’ll 1/4 it with you guys. https://t.co/ygVf00GNZu
— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) January 17, 2018
That was very generous of Chrissy, Kristen, Susan, and Mose Schrute, but it’s not going to come to that. USA Gymnastics had a change of heart (or a moment of damage control clarity). Here’s their statement:
“USA Gymnastics has not sought and will not seek any money from McKayla Maroney for her brave statements made in describing her victimization and abuse by Larry Nassar, nor for any victim impact statements she wants to make to Larry Nassar at this hearing or at any subsequent hearings related to his sentencing. This has been her right and 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.”
McKayla filed a lawsuit against USA Gymnastics last month, accusing them of forcing her to sign an illegal NDA in order to allow Larry Nassar to quietly leave USA Gymnastics.
USA Gymnastics finally did something right by killing McKayla’s NDA. But I kind of wish they had waited just a little longer before releasing that statement. Just to provide some more time to allow the celebrity offers to keep snowballing, with the famous people getting more and more random and the fractions getting smaller. It would have been all too enjoyable to read a Twitter thread containing 256 verified Twitter users like Chrissy Teigen, Kristen Bell, the Aflac Duck, and the MoonPie account trying to work out the logistics of where they’re supposed to send a pile of checks worth $390 each.
Pic: Wenn.com