A “disgraceful” petition about Rachael “Raygun” Gunn and Olympic chef de mission Anna Meares has been taken down after the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) condemned it as defamatory and bullying.
Change.org says the petition was “flagged for misinformation”, reviewed, and has now been faraway from the platform.
The nameless Change.org petition repeated false data that has unfold on-line in regards to the Olympics qualifying course of after Raygun’s efficiency.
Raygun’s breaking attracted world consideration after she didn’t win any of her battles in Paris. Whereas many had been derogatory about her efficiency, she additionally earned admirers and impressed numerous memes.
The petition, which garnered greater than 45,000 signatures, repeated false claims about AOC processes which were spreading on-line.
AOC chair, Matt Carroll, mentioned it amounted to bullying and harassment and contained falsehoods “designed to engender hatred”. AOC wrote to Change.org on Thursday demanding or not it’s withdrawn.
“It is disgraceful that these falsehoods concocted by an anonymous person can be published in this way. It amounts to bullying and harassment and is defamatory,” Carroll mentioned.
“It’s important that the community understands the facts and that people do not form opinions based on malicious untruths and misinformation.”
In an announcement, Change.org mentioned it “maintains strict guidelines against content that constitutes harassment, bullying, or spreading false information”.
“We take such matters seriously and remove any content that violates these standards to protect our users and uphold the integrity of our community.”
Raygun, a 36-year-old educational, mentioned in an Instagram submit on Thursday that the backlash towards her had been “devastating” and requested for privateness.
“I really appreciate the positivity and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into you lives,” she wrote. “That’s what I hoped.
“I didn’t realise that would also open the door to so much hate which has, frankly, been pretty devastating.”
