Simone Biles' Struggling Birth Mom Says She Will 'Accept Her Help,' But The Olympian Hasn't Offered Any
By Favour Adegoke on August 17, 2024 at 4:45 PM EDT
Updated on August 18, 2024 at 5:41 AM EDT
Simone Biles' luxury lifestyle is unlike that of her birth mom, Shannon Biles, who is seemingly struggling to make ends meet at the Olympian's birthplace of Columbus, Ohio.
The gymnast has been estranged from Shannon, who abandoned her daughter during childhood because of her addiction issues.
In a new interview, Shannon Biles explained the reasons for abandoning her famous daughter and pleaded for forgiveness.
Shannon Biles Explains Reason For Abandoning Daughter Simone
In a recent conversation with the Daily Mail, Shannon explained why she had to give up Simone and her other children at the time she was battling with drug and alcohol addiction.
"It was hard to give up my kids, but I had to do what I had to do. I wasn't able to care for them. I was still using, and [my father] didn't want me coming in and out of their lives when I wasn't right," she told the news outlet.
She also expressed sadness about not participating in major events in Simone's life, like her 2023 wedding to NFL player Jonathan Owens.
Shannon said, "I would like to make amends with Simone personally – I'm just waiting for her and [her younger sister] Adria. I speak to Adria more than I speak to Simone. I would just ask her to forgive me. Can we move forward? Don't judge me on my past. Let's move forward."
"I'm waiting for the opportunity but I'm waiting on her to be able to come to me. Let's sit down. I just have to be patient," she added.
Shannon Biles Says She Will Accept The Olympian's Help If She Ever Offers
Elsewhere in her conversation with the Daily Mail, Shannon disclosed that she's ready to accept any form of financial help if her famous daughter offers it but maintained that she's looking for them to settle first.
"Of course, I would accept her help," Shanon said. "She hasn't [offered] it so far. I'm here. I'm okay."
She also explained that she was so overtaken with pride at Simone's stellar Paris Olympics outing that she had to throw a party in her backyard. For her fine showing, Simone won three golds and one silver medal across various balancing sports.
Shannon also stated that Simone's biological father, Kevin Clemons, would like to extend an olive branch to her. Clemons, who also had his struggles with addiction and was estranged from his daughter, has managed to stay in contact with Shannon.
"We both want to see her. I talk to him all the time. He says, 'If you talk to Simone, give her my number. I'd love to talk to her.' But I can't even talk to her. I have to go through my dad," Shannon explained.
Simone Biles Flaunts Her Wealth On Social Media
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The 27-year-old Olympic Gold medalist has amassed a staggering fortune of about $25 million through her impressive athletic career, which will likely increase thanks to her recent successful outing at the just-concluded 2024 Paris Olympics.
With a collection of luxurious Birkin bags that are often featured on her social media page, as well as a sleek Range Rover and a grand Texas mansion, Simone's success is undeniable.
However, her lifestyle is a striking contrast with that of her birth mother, Shannon, who still struggles to make ends meet as a cashier in Columbus, Ohio.
According to the Daily Mail, the pair have been estranged for over two decades now and have maintained little to no contact since Shannon abandoned Simone when she was a child.
Shannon's father, Ronald Biles, and his second wife, Nellie, adopted Simone as a six-year-old, alongside her sister Adria. Ronald's sister also took in Shannon's two eldest children, Tevin, now 29, and Ashley, now 34.
The Star Gymnast Has Not Helped Her Birth Mom Financially
According to the news outlet, the high-flying athlete has consistently refused to reconcile with her mother and has seemingly blocked her out of major milestones in her life.
Simone has yet to offer any financial support to her birth mom, who has been dealing with debt repayment.
Although Shannon is now sober, she has little to show for her finances. She still lives in the same corner red-brick row house in the crime-ridden neighborhood of Franklinton, while her daughter can afford to buy luxury mansions and treat herself to nice vacation spots.
The 52-year-old has racked up a string of debts and several offenses that have seen her go in and out of court for more than 25 years.
Simone Biles' Birth Mom Is Struggling With Debt
In 2018, a Chapter Seven bankruptcy petition obtained by the Daily Mail showed that Simone's birth mom was penniless and had only a $34 prepaid card to her name.
Among Shannon's assets were two unusable Toyota Scion XB 2008 and a non-roadworthy GMC Sierra 2003, worth a combined $2,125. She claimed that her home was worth just $9,684 and also totaled her homeware, electronics, clothes, shoes, and jewelry as $9,650.
At the time, she owed $14,234 to 21 companies, including medical and financial services, shopping websites, and a $3,834 student loan. The debt was cleared the following year after she agreed to pay her main creditor, finance firm Integrity Funding Ohio LLC, in installments.
However, her money problems didn't go away as she was sued by debt collecting agency LVNV Funding LLC in 2021 with a judgment against her to pay off $916.25.
Shannon was reportedly still paying off her debts as recently as December last year despite installments being collected through her wages, which she previously reported as $1,688 a month.