My best friend and model Chrissy Teigen has offered to pay $100,000 if it meant Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney could testify against the team doctor who molested her.
Teigen tweeted the message of support to the 2012 gold-medal winner as Larry Nassar’s marathon sentencing hearing began with the first of nearly 100 women giving searing statements about the abuse they suffered.
Maroney, who told her own story of being assaulted in a post on Twitter last year, isn’t attending the hearing.
Teigen apparently thought she was scared off by the prospect of paying a penalty for breaking a non-disclosure agreement she signed as part of a reported $1.25 million settlement with USA Gymnastics and said she would be “absolutely honored” to pay it.
It’s not clear if the secrecy agreement played any part in Maroney’s decision not to attend the hearing; her “Fierce Five” teammates Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman are also not appearing in person.
But Maroney, who has said the abuse nearly drove her to suicide, issued a thank you to Teigen through a statement.
“I’m not on social media right now, but I wish I was for this! I’m shocked by your generosity, and I just want you to know how much hope your words bring to all of us! I just can’t get over the fact that someone I don’t personally know is sticking up for me, let alone a strong woman that I’ve looked up to for years!” she wrote.
“Thank you Chrissy, you’re so inspiring, and things are starting to change because of people like you! Just saying that was worth the decision to speak up regardless of a fine. You’re heart pure gold. God bless. All my love, McKayla.”