Olympic Gold Medalist Keely Hodgkinson Slammed Over Her Jab At “Loud” Americans
British Olympian Keely Hodges has sparked controversy with her latest Tiktok post, in which she criticizes Americans for being “loud.”
She did not have to say or even do much—she merely used a voiceover while showing herself sipping her beverages frenetically.
Be that as it may, the sight drew a mix of reactions ranging from mildly critical, with some dragging her recent third-place win at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships.
- Keely Hodges shared a TikTok implying Americans are the loudest in restaurants.
- The Paris 2024 gold medalist faced backlash and support in equal measure.
- US Olympian Massai Russel reacted, prompting Hodges to soften her stance.
Others proclaiming to be American agreed with the UK sports icon with apparent enthusiasm.
Keely Hodges is famous for her 2024 Olympic gold win
Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson celebrating victory, holding British flag and wearing a gold crown at Paris 2024 Games.
Image credits: Adam Pretty/Getty
The video with 17,000 likes and 83 comments is not the most illustrious post (in terms of viral footage), but because it was by Hodges, who won gold for the 800m sprint at the Paris Olympics 2024, outlets like the Daily Mail, which sees her as the darling of British athletics, put her on blast.
The 9-second reel shows the Olympian sitting at a table in a public venue, sipping from a glass of water and what could easily be an iced coffee.
In the background, an American-accented woman’s voice can be heard saying:
Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson taking a mirror selfie in athletic wear with a confident expression in a bathroom.
Image credits: keely.hodgkinson
“And now I want to sit back and relax and enjoy my evening, when all of a sudden, I hear this agitating grating voice.”
To enforce Hodges’ point, she embedded an overlay that read: “When there are Americans in the restaurant” and then captioned the video: “They’re really the loudest in the room.”
She backtracked on her statement when an American Olympian commented on the video
Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson covering her face wearing a red cap inside a modern restaurant setting.
Image credits: keelynhodgkinson
One of the first to respond to the jibe was American Athlete Massai Russel, who scooped gold in the 100-meter hurdles event.
“Heyyy, not too much,” she wrote.
At this, Hodges appeared to have a change of heart and replied with “Ya’ll are the most fun,” applying Americans’ favorite contraction for “you all.”
@keelynhodgkinsonThey’re really the loudest in the room 😂😂♬ original sound – kirsten_ssss
“She’s right though,” came another answer in the same thread.
Another user, proclaiming to be American, agreed with the statement
Another person recalled a “core memory” of a time in a small restaurant in Portugal. There they happened to be seated near Americans who allegedly spoke so loudly that guests at the writer’s table could not have a conversation of their own.
Screenshot of a social media exchange featuring Olympic Gold Medalist Keely Hodgkinson replying to a comment about loud Americans.
“And it’s worse when they’re from [New York] or New England (oh the irony). But yes, guilty,” wrote another.
The concurring sentiment can be seen elsewhere, like on YouTube, compliments of Girl Gone London, who talks about how she was described as a quiet kid in school in the United States.
And then she moved to the United Kingdom, where she was often accused of yelling.
A US citizen living abroad gets scolded for “yelling” often
Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson in coral athletic wear drinking from a cup on a running track at night.
Image credits: keely.hodgkinson
Content creator Mara Lee Bell on Tiktok is another American living abroad.
She cited numerous similar observations, including one where a Russian woman found herself in a US coffee shop.
Said Russian woman took to social media with her assessment and received blowback from an American citizen.
Comment on social media criticizing Olympic Gold Medalist Keely Hodgkinson’s remarks about loud Americans.
Comment on social media criticizing Olympic Gold Medalist Keely Hodgkinson for her jab at loud Americans.
According to Bell, Americans not believing they are loud is as prevalent a phenomenon.
She goes on to say that Europeans find the tendency “rude and aggressive.”
In 2018, Canadian journalist Julia Belluz listed a string of contributing factors but arrived at the same conclusion
Young woman with braided hair speaking indoors with text overlay about louder Americans in a casual setting, Olympic Gold Medalist context.
Image credits: maraleebell
Canadian Journalist Julia Belluz tackled the issue in 2018, already, when she observed how deafening the US restaurants can be.
“I wanted to leave almost as soon as I walked in. My ears were invaded by a deafening din. I felt like a trapped mouse, tortured with loud sounds for the purposes of an experiment.
@maraleebellconvincing an American that they’re being too loud is a TOUGH sell 😅♬ original sound – Maralee Bell
Alt text: Comment criticizing Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson’s statement about Americans being loud in a social media post.
Comment on social media by Siobhán De Siún reading they get SO DEFENSIVE with 87 likes under Olympic Gold Medalist Keely Hodgkinson controversy.
“The noise was so irritating, I asked my husband whether we should go before our drinks arrived,” she recalled of one such experience.
She offered a list of possibilities and probabilities for the anomaly, ranging from the lack of consideration for acoustics in building designs to the size of the country versus its population and, by extension, a historic necessity to speak louder.
Group of people enjoying coffee and snacks at a cafe, discussing Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson and Americans being loud.
Image credits: Getty/Unsplash
Then, in point five, she submitted blandly: “Americans are loud.”
“This has nothing to do with restaurateurs or designers or acoustic engineers. It has to do with Americans — who I believe are a slightly louder people, on average,” Belluz surmised.
The internet was been aware of the stereotype before Keely weighed in on it
Comment by Haley criticizing loud Americans, related to Olympic Gold Medalist Keely Hodgkinson controversy online.
Comment on social media criticizing Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson for her jab at loud Americans.
Comment by Gioia discussing similarities between Italians and Spanish people talking together on social media.
User comment by Marta discussing cultural differences between Sweden and the US regarding bus behavior and noise levels.
Comment by Laurel Lee discussing a presentation, related to Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson controversy over Americans.
Comment on social media discussing loud Americans in response to Olympic Gold Medalist Keely Hodgkinson’s remarks.
Comment from minktabletop discussing loudness related to Olympic Gold Medalist Keely Hodgkinson’s jab at Americans.
Comment by Alexis Ohanian Sr. saying WHAT DO YOU MEAN with a confused expression on a social media platform.
Olympic Gold Medalist Keely Hodgkinson reacting during an interview amid controversy over comments on Americans.
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