Calm, a mental health app, announced it was supporting tennis champion Naomi Osaka’s decision to decline media interviews during the French Open. Calm has offered to pay the fines of any athlete who opted out of the 2021 Grand Slam press conferences to preserve their mental health.
Calm is also donating $15,000 to Laureus Sports, which also supports mental health. Naomi Osaka was named the 2021 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year. The tennis champ was fined $15,000 for not speaking to the press at the French Open.
“Mental health is health. 🎾To support Naomi Osaka’s decision to prioritize her mental health, Calm is donating $15,000 to @LaureusSport in France, an organization doing incredible work in the mental health space to transform the lives of young people through the power of sport.”
“But this is bigger than any individual player. Calm will also pay the fine for players opting out of 2021 Grand Slam media appearances for mental health reasons, and we will match the fine with a $15,000 donation to @LaureusSport. #MentalHealthIsHealth.”
Mental health is health. 🎾
To support Naomi Osaka’s decision to prioritize her mental health, Calm is donating $15,000 to @LaureusSport in France, an organization doing incredible work in the mental health space to transform the lives of young people through the power of sport. pic.twitter.com/C53ptXsks5
— Calm (@calm) June 2, 2021
But this is bigger than any individual player.
Calm will also pay the fine for players opting out of 2021 Grand Slam media appearances for mental health reasons, and we will match the fine with a $15,000 donation to @LaureusSport.#MentalHealthIsHealth 🧠
— Calm (@calm) June 2, 2021
Osaka was mostly greeted with support for her decision to opt out of the media-required press conferences during the French Open, but she also received some negative press. Osaka later withdrew from the tournament altogether to concentrate on her mental well-being.
As Sister 2 Sister previously reported, racist, obsessed social-climbers like Piers Morgan proved exactly why Osaka felt that she needed a break from the press. Apparently fresh from his role in Antebellum, Morgan spoke of his “fury” and Osaka’s “orgy of narcissistic twaddle.” He also compared Osaka to Meghan Markle, called her an “arrogant, spoiled brat,” and questioned both ladies’ claims of depression.
Morgan accused Markle of lying when she spoke about depression and her suicidal thoughts, and he gave Osaka no more compassion than the duchess.
He said Osaka was “an arrogant spoiled brat whose fame and fortune appears to have inflated her ego to gigantic proportions. How else to explain her extraordinary decision to announce she will no longer participate in media press conferences, supposedly to protect her mental health?” He also called her a “petulant little madame.”
Of Osaka’s post announcing why she would be refraining from press interviews, Morgan said,
“I read this orgy of narcissistic twaddle several times with mounting fury.”
Morgan was on his own with his rhetoric against Osaka. In addition to Calm supporting the champion, several athletes also spoke out to support her decision.
I am so sad about Naomi Osaka.I truly hope she will be ok. As athletes we are taught to take care of our body, and perhaps the mental & emotional aspect gets short shrift. This is about more than doing or not doing a press conference. Good luck Naomi- we are all pulling for you!
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) May 31, 2021
You shouldnt ever have to make a decison like this-but so damn impressive taking the high road when the powers that be dont protect their own. major respect @naomiosaka https://t.co/OcRd95MqCn
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) May 31, 2021
We are with you @naomiosaka 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 #Courage https://t.co/Zo840pPRcJ
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) May 31, 2021
Celebrities have Osaka’s back as well. Will Smith, Dionne Warwick and Viola Davis showed the tennis star some love on social media.
View this post on Instagram
As one who also deals with social anxiety, I admire your courage and stand in solidarity with you, @naomiosaka.💛 #WCW #ProtectYourPeace #YourMentalHealthMatters pic.twitter.com/wGrlEUMs71
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) June 2, 2021
❤️@naomiosaka, I’m happy you realize your health and well-being are your priority. Take care of YOU always! You are the only You that You have! ❤️
— Dionne Warwick (@dionnewarwick) June 2, 2021
We support Osaka 1000%!
