Oprah Winfrey has been banned from commenting and speaking on social media after harshly criticizing Simone Biles on last week’s broadcast for her thoughtless actions!

In an unprecedented decision, Oprah Winfrey has been barred from commenting on social media for three months over the bitter words she said about Simone Biles. Recently, in her show, Winfrey made some bitter comments about Biles’ actions at the Olympics, including her decision, based on the reserve, to take some of the games’ important tests. For that, Winfrey received a lot of criticism all from Biles’ fans and other people who thought she was too harsh on the athlete.

Concerning this column, the public response was focused on the fact that Winfrey’s criticism did not take serious mental health in professional sports involved pressure into account. The famous gymnast, Simone Biles, who many count among the best performers ever, retreated from several Olympic events and cited mental health problems as the reason which initiated global debates. While many hailed Biles for having the courage to take a step back to focus on her physical and mental health needs, Winfrey’s words only fueled further the controversy around how athletes’ mental health issues should be dealt with publicly.

Social media exploded with reactions, most of which criticized Winfrey for her comments. Fans of Biles and mental health advocates expressed disappointment in the media mogul, pointing out that public figures like her have a responsibility to foster constructive and respectful discussions, especially on sensitive topics like mental health. The ban was seen as a move to remind influencers of their impact and the need for responsibility in online platforms, where millions of people are influenced by their words.

It also brought back the controversy over the issue of free speech and how the latter may be curbed in reference to celebrities. Whereas some people believe that Winfrey violates her right to free speech by banning these guys, others think that she bears more responsibility for the effect that her words may and will have on other people and their problems.

The ban remains a timely reminder of how hard it can be to establish civil processes for engaging in debates in mediated contexts, especially when they directly touch on people’s lives. The public, and they certainly do not exclusively refer to the politically correct left, is demanding less outright aggression in commentaries, especially from individuals who have a great deal of influence.