When I watched Olympic gymnast MyKayla Skinner speak openly about the bullying she endured — including from one of the most beloved athletes in the world, Simone Biles — I felt something shift inside me.
Her vulnerability was raw. Her courage? Unmistakable. And in her voice, I recognized something familiar: the quiet pain of being targeted, misunderstood, and isolated, especially when the world only sees the person hurting you as a hero.
In her recent video, MyKayla bravely shared how she was cyberbullied and emotionally impacted by someone within her own circle, someone the public admires. Her choice to speak up — not to “cancel” anyone, but to reclaim her own truth — echoed deeply with me. It reminded me why I wrote A Friend in the first place.
The Invisible Wounds of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying isn’t just anonymous hate from strangers. Sometimes it comes from people who are liked, loved, or even famous. That’s what makes it harder — and more painful. When the person hurting you is admired, your story can feel unbelievable. You begin to question yourself: “Am I the problem?” “Will anyone believe me?” “Should I just stay silent?”
But silence only feeds shame.
In A Friend, I explore the emotional maze of being mistreated and manipulated by someone who others praise. It’s a story for anyone who has felt small in the presence of someone powerful — someone who made you feel invisible, even while everyone else cheered them on.
MyKayla Skinner’s courage gave me permission to keep going. Her story reminded me that telling the truth is never wrong, even if it makes some people uncomfortable.
This Isn’t About Sides — It’s About Healing
Let me be clear: this is not a political statement. I’m not taking sides in the broader debate that has pulled names like Simone Biles and Riley Gaines into the public spotlight.
This is about healing. About what happens when someone with influence hurts you, and you decide to speak anyway. It’s about choosing your own peace over silence — and maybe helping someone else feel less alone.
That’s what MyKayla did for me. And that’s what I hope A Friend can do for someone else