Berry, an outspoken activist as well as track and field athlete, earned a bronze medal in the hammer throw to earn a berth to the Tokyo Games; during the medal ceremony, she turned away from the American flag and displayed a black T-shirt that read “Activist Athlete” on the front. Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, she said she felt organizers deliberately played the “Star-Spangled Banner” to coincide with the ceremony.
“I feel like it was a setup, and they did it on purpose,’’ Berry said. “I was pissed, to be honest.''
A spokeswoman for USA Track and Field said the playing of the anthem — which occurred once every evening at the Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore. — was scheduled for 5:20 p.m. It ultimately played at 5:25 p.m. to coincide with Berry’s trip to the medal podium.
MORE: Gwen Berry turns from flag as national anthem plays: ‘I feel like it was a setup’
Amid online criticism of her stance, Berry continued to stand by her point, tweeting a photo on Sunday with the caption, “Stop playing with me.”
Berry posted several messages she received from people who criticized her stance, many of which included vulgar or otherwise distrustful language. She also responded to more notable critics such as Fox News and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), the latter of whom said she should be removed from the team for turning her back on the flag.
Berry also claimed everything negative she has heard after her demonstration — which, she says, has been twisted to misrepresent her message — is proof that critics “rally patriotism over basic morality.”
MORE: USA Olympic track and field trials results: Tracking the 2021 U.S. team for every men’s, women’s event
Others have responded positively or otherwise defended Berry’s right to protest. White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended her demonstration when asked about it Monday.
