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.

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.