Gabby Thomas, Spice, Sanya Richards-Ross and Nicki Minaj are among the celebrities who have expressed support for Jamaican runner Junelle Bromfield amid online abuse she has received the last several weeks. Bromfield has been the target of vicious social media attacks from fellow Jamaicans since her boyfriend, American sprinter Noah Lyles, revealed in a pre-Olympics interview in July that he has been privy to inside information regarding Jamaican athletes. While speaking out against the attacks in a post to Instagram on Friday, the Jamaican 400m runner also shared screenshots of some of the hateful messages she has received, with many of them disparaging her dark complexion and looks.
“I grew up hearing black is not beautiful , your hair is dry, your mouth is too big, your forehead too high and when you throw all those insults behind you and start walking with confidence the best compliment you get is (you are) pretty for a black girl. “I honestly thought we were past colorism in Jamaica especially as (a) nation that is filled with black people. I have been getting cyber bullied for weeks and when it gets talked about I’m a liar because no Jamaican was coming for my features,” she continued.
“I could go off ranting but I’m just here to tell all the girls/women on my profile that you’re beautiful no matter your shade, shape or size and for the little black girls don’t wait on anybody to tell you that your beautiful to believe it.” The post has received thousa.