Chloe Kim Disables Instagram DMs After Fake Images

Chloe Kim, the American snowboarder and three-time Olympic medalist, announced on Friday that she is temporarily disabling direct messages on her Instagram account after receiving fake and disturbing images and videos from online users. The 25-year-old athlete, fresh off securing a silver medal in the women's halfpipe at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy, shared the update in a story post, citing the need to protect her mental well-being amid heightened public scrutiny.

Kim's decision comes in the wake of her high-profile performance at the Games, where she entered as a two-time defending champion but fell short of a third consecutive gold. Competing through a shoulder injury sustained in a training fall in Switzerland in early January, she dislocated the joint but still qualified for Team USA and reached the finals. On her final two runs, Kim fell, allowing 17-year-old South Korean competitor Choi Gaon to claim the top spot. Kim expressed gratitude for her achievement despite the challenges, stating in a post-competition Instagram message, "A month ago, I wasn't even sure if I'd be able to compete. I was in the darkest space mentally and felt so much fear coming...