“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” For track and field‘s golden couple, Noah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield, the Paris Olympics was a bittersweet experience. Although Bromfield didn’t secure a victory at Stade de France, she was there to witness her partner sprint to his first Olympic gold medal, cheering him on from the stands. But behind her supportive smile, Bromfield was battling her own inner turmoil, enduring a barrage of online criticism and negativity.

Bromfield kept her feelings private until she felt ready to speak out. On August 23, she took to Instagram to share her experience, opening up about the bullying she faced while in Paris. In a heartfelt post, she detailed the harsh treatment she endured, shedding light on the darker side of her Olympic journey. Instead of garnering empathy, her vulnerability only seemed to attract more negativity. Despite being a 2020 Tokyo bronze medalist, Bromfield found herself still at the receiving end of relentless criticism.

One fan’s harsh message encapsulated the backlash: “You are putting Jamaica in a bad light, but people say you’re black. This means nothing much in Jamaica. So please stop creating drama.” Bromfield shared a screenshot of this comment on her Instagram story, addressing the ongoing situation directly. “The people who are messaging me saying I’m playing a victim or calling a person black in Jamaica is not a problem,” she responded, calmly but firmly standing her ground amidst the storm of negativity.

The sprinter exclaimed how this isn’t out of the ordinary. “I have gotten so many heartbreaking messages from beautiful black women sharing their stories about colorism in Jamaica.” She reiterated that this wasn’t an uninformed claim, “IT IS A PROBLEM.” The 26-year-old further pointed out that the messages she received are a testament to that. “We don’t have to go digging to find them either you guys are brave enough to say it to our face, dm us, and Mention us in every post degrading us.” She reiterated how there is no excuse to be colorist, and how she hoped “you guys talk to your little dark skin family members better.” But what brought this on?

Before the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles appeared on an interview with Track World News. He casually mentioned how their pillow talk occasionally features their professional responsibilities. But this only enraged certain fans, and they took to dragging Bromfield through the mud. However, when the 26-year-old responded to the hate with an unbothered Instagram story, things went from bad to worse. Even though many showered the sprinter with support, the negativity powered through. From comments about her looks to how she’s betrayed the trust of the nation.

Junelle Bromfield opens up about her harrowing experience

Junelle Bromfield remained silent about the hurtful comments she received during her time at the Summer Games, choosing not to address the negativity while competing. However, after two months of enduring this harassment, the Jamaican sprinter decided she could no longer keep quiet. Taking to social media, Bromfield bravely shared a series of harsh messages she had received, revealing, “I have been getting cyber bullied for weeks.” She noted that whenever she mentioned the colorism she experienced, she was often accused of lying.

But Bromfield’s post wasn’t just about calling out the negativity; it was also a message of empowerment. “I grew up hearing ‘black is not beautiful,’ ‘your hair is dry,’ ‘your mouth is too big,’ ‘your forehead is too high,'” she shared, reflecting on the painful comments she’s endured. Despite these challenges, Bromfield wanted to reassure her followers that none of this should define them. “You’re beautiful no matter your shade, shape, or size. And for the little black girls, don’t wait on anybody to tell you that you’re beautiful to believe it 👸🏿❤️.”

Her ever-supportive boyfriend, Noah Lyles, quickly chimed in with words of affirmation, reminding her that she is and always will be an inspiration. What are your thoughts on this situation? Are you on Team Junelle?