The queer internet was dominated on Thursday by backlash to Nico Hines’ exploitative Daily Beast story on athletes’ use of sex apps in Rio de Janeiro, with condemnation from LGBTQ press-watchers (including us here at Outward) being universal. But, likely for reasons relating to safety and focus, we’ve heard relatively little from the athletes themselves. That changed Thursday afternoon when Amini Fonua, an Olympic swimmer and gay man representing Tonga at the Rio Games, let fly a tweetstorm that powerfully captures the damage this story will cause.
As of 5:30 p.m., the article was still posted on the Daily Beast site.
Update, 9:18 p.m.: Later on Thursday, the Daily Beast took down the piece entirely.
Update, 11:25 p.m.: The Daily Beast has also published an apology.
