Junelle Bromfield Speaks Out Again Amid Online Backlash
August 23, 2024, 12:20 PM (GMT-5)
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Amid the online backlash she has been receiving over the past month, Jamaican athlete Junelle Bromfield released a statement on Friday as critics continue to attack her looks.
The online attacks, which started after Noah Lyles expressed that Bromfield had shared information with him about Jamaican track camps, have persisted beyond the recently ended Olympics. As angry Jamaican fans continue to lash out at her relationship with Lyles, they have taken aim at Bromfield’s looks, in particular her skin tone.
While she ignored the online drama for the most part, the runner released a statement on her Instagram page this morning. Bromfield expressed that she has become accustomed to people criticising black people with darker complexions and their features.
“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 your pretty for a black girl,” Bromfield wrote.
She further stated that she thought the country had moved past colourism, especially due to Jamaica’s majority population of black people. Bromfield went on to encourage women to believe in their natural beauty, no matter their shade, shape, or size.
“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. 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 the little black girls don’t wait on anybody to tell you that your beautiful to believe it 👸🏿❤️,” Bromfield wrote.
In addition to her statement, the athlete also shared a series of screenshots of the various derogatory comments that have been made about her looks and relationship.
“She bake suh til she bun,” one person stated, while another wrote, “Watch d likkle mongoose face gyal.”
One individual threatened Bromfield’s life, if she was to ever return to Jamaica. “mek sure u nuh come bck a jamaica whi a kill u,” the person stated in a message to Bromfield.
She has since received an outpouring of support, with Lyles dubbing her an inspiration.
“Baby you are and will always be an inspiration to all little girls feeling this exact way. I can’t wait for the day that you tell your story in full because every girl that has felt what you are going through will know how amazing they can be and go on to do amazing things!” Lyles said.
Bromfield also received words of support from American athlete Gabby Thomas and Alysha Miller-Powell, who is the wife of former Jamaican athlete Asafa Powell.
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