Reigning Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee said recently that she has received negative reactions from the Hmong community for being in an interracial relationship.
The 18-year-old Lee is an Asian American with connections to the Hmong community, which originated in China before migrating to Laos and Thailand. She is dating USC safety Jaylin Smith, who is Black.
According to Scott Stump of Today, Lee posted photos of herself and Smith on Instagram on Dec. 26. Shortly thereafter, TikTok user alixphom, who describes himself as "half Hmong," made a video in which he supported the relationship, writing: "I know that Sunisa will be judged by certain eyes in the Hmong Community because her man is Black.