Sean Hannity calls out 'mean and cruel' treatment of Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles

Sean Hannity came to the defense of tennis superstar Naomi Osaka and superstar gymnast Simone Biles Tuesday night. Osaka pulled out of the French Open in May, and Biles removed herself from the Olympic all-around competition last week, both citing mental health issues. Osaka and Biles have been disparaged and gleefully mocked by many on the right, sometimes on Fox News, and Hannity has heard enough.

“To be honest, and this may surprise you, I’m kind of shocked people have actually been so mean and cruel in many cases, passing judgment of both these incredible female athletes. Um, can we just be a little more respectful?” Hannity said. “Remember, they are under tremendous pressure. They’re all very young and sometimes all of us need to take a deep breath, relax, reset, move forward. These young women have both sacrificed years and years over a decade of their life to become some of the greatest athletes in their respective sports.”

Hannity ended by saying, “They’re under tremendous pressure, and I’m sorry, but some people seem pretty heartless in their comments.”

Video Transcript

SEAN HANNITY: To be honest, and this may surprise you, I'm kind of shocked people have actually been so mean and cruel, in many cases passing judgment of both these incredible female athletes. Can we just be a little more respectful?

KYLIE MAR: On "Hannity Tuesday," Sean Hannity addressed mental health issues and the treatment of tennis star, Naomi Osaka, who pulled out of the French Open in May citing anxiety. And gymnastics star, Simon Biles, who removed herself from most of the Olympic competition to focus on mental well-being. Some conservative pundits have gone on Fox and disparaged Biles for her decision, including Fox News contributor, Raymond Arroyo, who had this to say.

RAYMOND ARROYO: I get it. She had a bad performance. She was lost mid-air in a flip. She probably feared breaking her neck or permanently injuring herself. There is also the traumatic sex abuse that she endured at the hands of that evil Dr. Nasser. But the time to work through all of that was before the Olympic trials, not during the Olympic games.

KYLIE MAR: While some conservative commentators have gleefully mocked Osaka and Biles, Hannity does not believe it's warranted.

SEAN HANNITY: They are under tremendous pressure. They're still very young. And sometimes, all of us need to take a deep breath, relax, reset, move forward. These young women have both sacrificed years and years, over a decade, of their life to become some of the greatest athletes in their respective sports.

KYLIE MAR: And Hannity believes Osaka and Biles deserve more understanding and less hate.

SEAN HANNITY: None of us ever know what someone, especially any young person, what they might be going through that you don't know about. You just don't know. They're under tremendous pressure. And I'm sorry, but some people seem pretty heartless in their comments.