Many social media users' responses refer to fellow figure skater Nancy Kerrigan who was struck in the leg with a baton at the Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan on January 6, 1994, just days before the United States Figure Skating Championships - in which Harding was her main rival.

In January 1994, a day before the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Kerrigan's right leg was struck by a baton. The assailant, Shane Stant, was hired by Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and her bodyguard, Shawn Eckardt, to break her right knee. Harding and Kerrigan were set to compete against each other.