Suni Lee opens up about her new relationship after going public with boyfriend Jaylin Smith while on vacation. On December 26, the Olympic gold medalist – who is currently a freshman at Auburn University – posted two photos looking perfectly happy with her boyfriend, along with a caption of a single emoji in the shape of a White Heart. However, shortly after the social media post, some people online took issue with the relationship – especially people from the American Hmong community.
According to a comment Suni left under a TikTok video, the young gymnast suggested that some people sent her hateful comments for choosing to date a black man. The video she commented on is from user alixphom, who posted full support for Suni’s new relationship. “I know Sunisa will be judged by some eyes of the American Hmong community because her man is black,” he captioned the video with a screenshot from Suni’s Instagram post. “LOVE is LOVE, no matter your race or gender. Keep making yourself QUEEN.”
Suni expressed her appreciation for the video, commenting, “It makes me so happy. I received so much hate,” with a crying emoji. “They support me when it is good for them, never when it comes to my happiness. Thank you!”
The star athlete previously opened up about another hateful incident she encountered, revealing to POPSUGAR that she was pepper sprayed in Los Angeles after a car drove by and spat racial slurs at her and a group of girlfriends at a party. “I was so angry, but there was nothing I could do or control because they got around,” she recalls in her blanket. “I didn’t do anything to them, and having the reputation it’s so hard because I didn’t want to do anything that could get me in trouble. I just let it happen.”