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Chrissy Teigen Offers $100K To Allow McKayla Maroney To Speak About Abuse

"I would be absolutely honoured to pay this fine for you"

Chrissy Teigen has offered to pay the $100,000 fine Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast McKayla Maroney would receive should she ever speak out about the abuse she faced at the hands of disgraced USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.

Gymnast Maroney claims the disgraced physician, who has admitted to molesting girls with his hands while they were present for treatment for hip and back pain, abused her for six years, ABC News reports.

More than 100 women have accused the Team USA doctor of sexual assault, including American gymnast Simone Biles, who came forward yesterday with her heartbreaking #MeToo story.

In a lawsuit filed last month, Maroney alleges that USA Gymanstics paid her to keep quiet about Nassar, something her lawyers say is “an immoral and illegal attempt to silence a victim.”

McKayla Maroney
McKayla Maroney

The lawsuit reveals Maroney was paid $1.25 million in December 2016 and had to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which imposes a $100,000 fine if she ever speaks out about her abuse.

Nassar, who pled guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct in November last year, is due to appear in court for sentencing on Tuesday with over 88 victims and parents due to deliver victim impact statements. Chrissy Teigen has offered to pay Maroney’s $100k fine so she is able to join other victims in telling her story.

“The entire principle of this should be fought – an NDA to stay quiet about this serial monster with over 140 accusers, but I would be absolutely honoured to pay this fine for you, McKayla,” Teigen tweeted.

In testimony letters made public in December, Maroney and her mother described the horrific impact of Nassar’s alleged abuse.

“I … learned a few weeks ago from my daughter that at the world championships in Tokyo, (Nassar) drugged her, made her lay nude on a treatment table, straddled her and digitally penetrated her while rubbing his erect penis against her. She was only 15-years-old. She said to me, ‘Mum I thought I was going to die,”’ mother Erin Maroney wrote.

It’s unclear whether Maroney will take Teigen up on her offer.

If you or someone you know needs support, help can be found at Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, please call the National Child Abuse Helpline on 1800 99 10 99 or the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.

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