Sha’Carri Richardson is catching hell on social media after she appeared to throw shade at Olympian Allyson Felix.
Felix appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Tuesday, and when guest host Stephen A. Smith asked her about Richardson, she was graceful.
“She’s obviously been through so much,” Felix said. “I hope that she’s just supported. I hope that people rally around her. Obviously, she has a great personality, and she’s brought a lot of attention to the sport. I think she’ll be in the sport for a very long time.”
“I think just more than anything, for all athletes, there’s so much that goes into it — we just, you know, give her the support that she needs,” she continued.
Richardson made a cryptic post in her Instagram story the morning after Felix did her interview.
“Encouraging words on tv shows are just as real as well nothing at all,” Richardson wrote. The next slide read, “be a good person, but don’t waste time proving it.”
Ouch.
Richardson did not name Felix, but fans made the connection and got her together.
https://twitter.com/Gemini_AtHEART/status/1430837556011278338?s=20
“Idk how Shacarri fumbled that cause Allyson Felix is definitely who you’d want to hear encouraging words from & it could’ve turned into more,” tweeted one person.
https://twitter.com/SincerelyyNadia/status/1430585229027201028?s=20
https://twitter.com/dhegec/status/1430769603525947396?s=20
Amid the mudslinging, some users opted to give Richardson some grace.
https://twitter.com/ScottieBeam/status/1430630685283438602?s=20
“Someone needs to pull Sha’Carri to the side. Hoping someone helps her,” tweeted media personality Scottie Beam.
https://twitter.com/mylifeiskara/status/1430626995596058628?s=20
https://twitter.com/ItsDanaWhite/status/1430643918916526088?s=20
The 22-year-old sprinter hasn’t had the best week since she came in last place in the 100-meter at the Prefontaine Classic last week. It was her first race since a failed drug test caused her to miss the Summer Olympics. She was also scheduled to run the 200-meter but pulled out. Richardson maintained her fiery spirit after the race.
“Coming out today, it was a great return back to the sport. I wanted to be able to come and perform, having a month off, dealing with all I was dealing with,” she told NBC after the race. “I’m not upset at myself at all. This is one race. I’m not done. You know what I’m capable of. Count me out if you want to, talk all the [stuff] you want because I’m here to stay. I’m not done.”
Felix has not responded to the drama.
