'She Did Not Go to School for This'— Internet Explodes Over Simone Biles' Latest Achievement

Netizens are up in arms over the honor Simone Biles was bestowed with by Washington University. The heated commentary follows an instance where her accent was scrutinized at the Kentucky Derby.

Recently, gymnastics superstar Simone Biles presented the commencement speech for Washington University graduates in St. Louis, Missouri. Aside from speaking, she received a special honor from the university, which she proudly boasted about on social media. Her posts prompted a flurry of strong reactions from netizens, some of whom felt she didn't qualify for the achievement.

Clad in a flowing green academic gown trimmed with black velvet and red piping, Biles struck a proud pose with her signature poise unmistakable even beneath the soft drape of her doctoral cap.

The Olympic gymnast beamed in the second snap she shared on Instagram, flashing a wide, joyful smile while holding up the honorary degree she received from Washington University.

In the cover image, she stood confidently with a softer, more reserved smile, her posture speaking volumes about the magnitude of the moment.

Biles captioned the post with playful pride, writing, "it's [sic] Dr. Biles to you […]" before extending heartfelt thanks to the university and a warm congratulations to the graduating class. "Good luck with all your future endeavors!!" she concluded.

In the comment section of her post, Biles later clarified that she received an "honorary doctorate 🎓." The celebration didn't stop with Instagram. Biles also posted a cheeky TikTok clip that further underscored her excitement and humor.

Draped once again in her emerald and black doctoral robes, she acted along to an audio clip that playfully declared, "What's my major? I don't have a major, I have a degree."

Initially, she mimicked surprise with a wide-eyed expression, then grinned proudly as she presented the honorary degree to the camera in perfect sync with the punchline.

The brief but spirited video ended with her holding the certificate up close, a bold nod to both fans and critics. "call [sic] me Dr. Biles from now on," she captioned the post, tagging it with "#washingtonuniversity," "#honorarydegree," and "#commencement."

Despite her jubilant posts, Biles' achievement ignited a fiery debate online. Several people strongly objected to honorary degrees, calling them unjust or unearned.

One viewer lamented, "Honorary degrees are such a slap in the face to the people that have actually done the work 😭😭," while another echoed, "Ts is a slap in the face that actually work hard to receive the degree [sic]."

A third shared, "I love her, but I deeply dislike honorary degrees." Like this observer, other commenters clarified that their frustration wasn't with Biles personally, but with the system itself.

"It's honorary yall. Meaning she did NOT go to school for this. Still cool, but definitely not the same as going for years, taking the tests, reading the books etc. [sic]," explained one spectator.

Another went deeper, writing in part, "Never liked the concept of honorary degrees. Folks in college spend yrs studying, doing assignments, research, exams etc. to get it without having to do the work is wild [sic]."

Still, the criticism didn't go unanswered — others rushed to Biles' defense, celebrating her achievement and calling for kindness. One fan gushed, "Yes, I love it! The honorary degree may be symbolic, but to me, it shows she's on the level of a doctor in her field."

Another praised, "imagine [sic] being an Olympian and STILL having time to get your degrees!!" Even more supporters chimed in with compliments, uplifting Biles and marveling at her achievement, with comments such as, "We love to see it! Congrats, Dr. Biles ✨," and "what can't she do 🥳 [sic]." Meanwhile, someone else called out the negativity, urging people to be happy for her.

As a revered public figure, Simone Biles is no stranger to sparking conversations. Not too long ago, the Olympian prompted a flurry of reactions to how she spoke when she performed an iconic tradition at the 2025 Kentucky Derby on May 3, at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

The gymnastics gold medalist attended the event with her husband, Chicago Bears player Jonathan Owens. They donned coordinating outfits.

Biles dazzled in a strapless, lavender mini-dress adorned with purple crystal embellishments. She paired it with strappy heels and a matching dramatic hat.

Alongside her, Owens wore a textured lavender suit with a white dress shirt, pants, and sneakers. Adding a touch of flair to his look, the Bears' safety completed the ensemble with a small purple hat.

Ahead of the race, Biles performed the "Riders Up" tradition that provides a signal for the jockeys to climb aboard their steeds.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the city of Louisville, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and sports fans from around the world have been waiting for this moment. Riders Up!" she exclaimed as she blew a kiss at the camera and beamed.

A clip of the moment made its rounds on social media, with many netizens commenting on her accent. "She said lemme [sic] try the valley girl accent," one person said. "Big code switching 😩," another wrote.

"But why she change her accent to say that😭😜 [sic]," a viewer wondered, while someone else joked, "They paid extra for the code switching 💅🏾🤏🏾."

Defending Biles, a spectator explained, "Have you guys never heard Simone speak before? This is literally how she normally talks just [sic] more projected😭." Another echoed the sentiment, accusing those surprised at how Biles sounded in the clip of not being "real fans."