Simone Biles, the decorated American gymnast and one of the most prominent figures in the sports world, recently made headlines for an unexpected reason. Following her participation in the Paris Olympics, Biles found herself amid a controversy involving a nightclub in the city. According to her, the nightclub attempted to charge her an exorbitant amount of $26K for champagne, sparking a debate about athlete treatment and societal expectations.
It is not uncommon for athletes to be targeted for special treatment or exploitation due to their status and wealth. The incident involving Biles and the nightclub in Paris is an example of how some establishments may try to take advantage of athletes’ fame and financial resources.
The 27-year-old gymnast opened up about her night out in France – following the Olympics’ closing ceremony earlier this month – in a video posted to her TikTok on August 19. While she filmed herself putting her makeup on, she recalled her experience at the Paris nightclub.
“After [closing ceremonies] we went out,” she said. “You guys, this club tried to charge me $26,000 for a bottle of champagne. Like are you insane?”
After noting that she “obviously didn’t buy” the champagne, she still didn’t understand why it was so expensive. “But why would you even try to play me like that? That’s wild,” she added.
While Biles proceeded to apply her bronzer, she then shared her candid thoughts about being in the public eye.
“I don’t know sometimes, the attention, I’d rather not have it,” Biles, who won four medals at the 2024 Olympics, said. “I rather just be as normal as possible, I don’t know.”
In the comments of her TikTok video, which has more than 1.8 million views, multiple people expressed how stunned they were by the price of the champagne.
“$26k??? That’s insane!” one wrote, while another added: “$26,000 is crazy.”
A third asked: “Was it L’Arc??”
Although Biles didn’t specify which nightclub offered her the champagne, she did share videos on her Instagram Story at the L’Arc Paris on August 12, after the closing ceremony. In the two videos from the night, as reported by People, people could be seen holding up light-up signs that read “Simone Biles God 4 Life” and “gym legend.” She posted the footage alongside the caption: “The reason why I am unwell this morning.”
She also shared a black and white selfie of her and her sister, Adria Biles, at the club. In the caption, she quipped: “If you see me out at the club, pls tell me to go home…for my own sake and health in the am.”
Simone Biles’ experience at the Paris nightclub shows the challenges that celebrities face when navigating public spaces. By sharing her story, Biles has sparked an important conversation that will hopefully lead to positive change in the way businesses interact with their customers.
Flip to the next page to watch the video of Simone Biles telling how the nightclub tried to rip her off a whopping $26K for champagne…
