‘Don’t Be Mad at Me’: Simone Biles’ Adoptive Parents Bought Her a Luxurious Gift after Winning Gold, Sparking Talks

After her historic performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simone Biles received a special gift from her adoptive parents, Nellie and Ronald Biles—a Hermès Birkin bag. The gesture not only celebrated her success but also sparked significant discussions online after Simone shared the news on social media.

Taking to Threads, the 27-year-old gymnast humorously shared a glimpse of her new luxury accessory, writing, “my parents bought me my hermes bag  don’t be mad at me, be mad at your parents [sic].”

She also posted on Instagram Stories, showcasing different variants of Hermès bags during her shopping trip, including a display of cream and tan bags, along with the iconic orange gift box.

Simone’s expensive gift quickly caught the attention of fans and followers, with many flooding the comments to show their support. “I hope you never again feel the need to explain any kind of purchase made for you by you or by someone else. Enjoy your life, Queen!!!” a user encouraged Simone.

Another follower added, “No explanation needed: you’re a grown woman. Oh, and an Olympic champion, and a national hero, and… Anyone who has a problem with you and the Hermes bag is a jealous attention seeking [sic].”

A particularly vocal supporter commented, “Girl, even if you bought yourself your own, I wouldn’t care! It’s your money, and you’re an Olympian. Like, go spend the money sis.”

Amid the flurry of supportive messages, one curious follower asked, “I just want to know what color.” Simone responded with a lighthearted reply, “[It’s] black w/ silver hardware! I’ll post a picture soon.”

The luxury gift follows Simone’s triumphant run at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she continued to solidify her status as the most decorated gymnast of all time.

Beyond her remarkable athletic achievements, Simone also took time to enjoy Paris, sharing photos on Instagram of her well-deserved break after the intense competition.

Simone also shared more snaps from her trip to the French city, from strolling the streets in a stylish ensemble to casually looking out from her balcony while dressed in relaxed clothes. “from paris with love [sic],” she wrote in her post.

What made this Olympic experience in Paris even more special was the presence of Simone’s adoptive parents, who were in the stands cheering her on. Their support meant the world to her, especially after they missed the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Simone shared in an August 2024 interview that her adoptive parents were “really excited” to be in Paris. “They missed Tokyo, so this was like a cherry on top for them. Paris is such a beautiful city, and seeing all the girls compete — and almost the same exact girls as in Tokyo — so they were just, like, ecstatic,” she added.

In the same interview, Simone reflected on the vital role Ronald and Nellie have played in her journey. When asked who she would credit for her success, she quickly responded, “If not for my parents and adoption, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Simone’s acknowledgment of her adoptive parents’ profound impact stands in sharp contrast to the recent developments involving her biological mother.

After years of estrangement, Simone’s biological mother, Shanon Biles, opened up about her side of the story in an exclusive August 13 interview, expressing her wish to reconnect with Simone. This left the public wondering why she chose to speak up now.

The 52-year-old admitted she gave up Simone and her sister, Adria, due to her struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. “It was hard to give up my kids, but I had to do what I had to do. I wasn’t able to care for them. I was still using and [my father] didn’t want me coming in and out of their lives when I wasn’t right,” Shanon confessed.

She then revealed her reason for wanting to step back into Simone’s life. “I would like to make amends with Simone personally […] I would just ask her to forgive me. Can we move forward? Don’t judge me on my past. Let’s move forward,” she expressed.

The apologetic mom also mentioned how she speaks to Adria more than she does to her older sister. She conveyed her sorrow for having missed out on a lot of Simone’s major life milestones, like when she wed NFL star Jonathan Owens in 2023.

While Shanon desired with all her heart to make amends with her daughter, she acknowledged that the ball remained in the Olympian’s court. “I’m waiting on her to be able to come to me […] I just have to be patient,” she remarked to the news outlet.

Although Shanon was not able to be around to share the excitement of her daughter’s victories with the rest of the family, she revealed how she celebrated the gymnastic star in her own way.

One such celebration saw her throw a backyard party for her row house in Columbia, Ohio, to proudly boast about Simone’s stellar performance at the Paris Olympics.

Hordes of neighbors and friends gathered at Shanon’s place to celebrate Simone’s three gold and silver medal wins she achieved during the Games. However, the affair was still bittersweet, marred by the grim reality of the familial situation.

Before Simone was adopted at six years old by her actual grandparents Ronald and Nellie, she and her siblings were placed in foster care after Shanon lost them.

Aside from Simone and Adria who live in Texas with Nellie and Ronald, their older siblings Tevin and Ashley were taken in by Ronald’s sister when they were younger.

Meanwhile, Shanon still lives in the same red-brick, corner-row $9,684 house she has always lived in, which, unfortunately, is located in a crime-ridden neighborhood called Franklinton. Adding further insult to injury is the fact that Shanon accumulated a lot of debt over the years.

Information from a bankruptcy petition that was filed in October 2018 stipulated that Shanon disclosed only having $34 on a prepaid card and ultimately $0 to her name overall. However, she did have some assets worth a few thousand dollars, though they were relatively small amounts.

Among the assets listed were two unusable cars (a GMC Sierra 2003 and a completely destroyed Toyota Scion XB 2008), which amounted to $2,125 collectively. Other assets included homeware, jewelry, electronics, and shoes, making up a total of $9,650. Shanon also listed her dog, cat, and guinea pig as part of her assets.

The news outlet reported that Shanon once owed $14,234 to 21 different companies, which included shopping websites and medical and financial services. She also owed a student loan of $3,834.

Aside from her money troubles, Shanon has faced legal troubles as well. Franklin County Municipal records indicate that she has faced court action for an array of criminal and traffic misdemeanor cases 36 times.

Additionally, she was found guilty of assault in January 2020 and was given a 180-day suspended prison sentence and probation until the beginning of 2022.

However, since then, Shanon has been able to turn her life around to some degree, staying out of trouble and spending her days working as a cashier at Save A Lot when she is unhindered by medical issues.

She also confirmed that she is clean and sober today, although it comes with its fair share of challenges. “I am a recovering addict […] But there’s a way [to recovery]. You have to learn to stay away from people, places and things. Change your routine,” she divulged.

“I’m not the person I used to be. I’m okay today. I’m a loving person […] I’m very different from what I’ve been portrayed,” Shanon admitted. Sadly, regardless of how much Shanon has changed, her relationship with Simone remains the same—heavily estranged with no direct communication.

“What I hear about Simone I hear through my dad. I speak to my dad all the time. We’re good now. It was just his birthday, and I called to wish him happy birthday,” revealed Shanon. The father and daughter have come a long way since she had to relinquish her parenting rights.

“When we signed the [adoption] papers it was like my dad flipped a switch on me – no communication, don’t call, and don’t visit. That’s how it was in the beginning. It took me six years before I saw my children again […] I was hard-headed. I didn’t care, screaming, ‘I want to see my kids, why you doing this to me?’” Shanon shared.

Continuing she added, “I didn’t understand at the time but years later, I understood why. I had to deal with me first.” Shanon also spoke about how she wants the opportunity to be the one to explain the aforementioned circumstances to Simone herself.

Most importantly, she wanted to tell Simone how much she loved her and how proud she was. Although Shanon had her daughter’s number, she never called, hoping Simone would be the one to reach out first

“She’s 27 now. She’s married. I would have liked to have been a part of that, but I just have to wait for her. You can’t push anybody. It hasn’t happened yet, but I have patience. I’m waiting on her,” Shanon noted. Apparently, according to Shanon, Simone’s biological father, Kevin Clemons wants to contact her, too.

Addressing her daughter directly, Shanon wrapped up her revelations, pleading, “I would like to sit down and talk to you and answer any questions you may have. I don’t know what you’ve been told but I want you to hear the real deal.”

After hearing Shanon’s statements, many netizens shared their opinions online, with some doubting her sincerity. They believe that her motives were financially driven. Some also questioned the timing of Shanon’s interview, coming after Simone’s rise to global fame and success.

Comments included skepticism about her seeking forgiveness now that her daughter is successful, with one user calling it a “disgusting way to reach out” and another labeling it as “convenient” and shameful.

One person seemingly looking out for Simone’s best interests expressed, “Sure if that’s what Simone wants…” Thus far, Simone Biles has not commented on her biological mother’s pleas.

Shanon’s unresolved estrangement from Simone contrasts with Simone’s hard-earned success. Supported by her adoptive parents, who gifted her a meaningful token of love in the form of a luxury bag, the athlete’s journey shows resilience, celebrating her achievements despite the complexities of their relationship.