Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones found herself in the middle of a social media debate in early November 2013 after a response to two young fans who dressed up as her for Halloween.
According to NewsOne and Black America Web, one of the fans shared a photo of her costume with Jones on Twitter. Jones reportedly replied with a joke about the fan’s hair, suggesting she would need a relaxer to pull off the look. A second fan reportedly received a comment as well. Both are young, private individuals, so we are not naming them.
Reaction online was mixed. Some followers said the reply was a harmless joke from an athlete known for a playful and sometimes blunt Twitter presence. Others said the comments were hurtful, coming from someone the girls admired, especially at a time when young people already face a lot of pressure about their appearance and hair.
Jones, a two time Olympian who finished fourth in the 100 meter hurdles at the 2012 London Games, has drawn attention for her Twitter posts before. Baller Alert had not seen a public response from Jones to the criticism at the time of this post.
Whatever the intent, the moment is a reminder that a quick reply to a fan can land very differently than it was meant. Fans dressing up as their favorite athletes is a sign of admiration, and a kind word goes a long way.
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