Shaun White Calls Sexual Harassment Lawsuit 'Gossip' After Gold-Medal Win

American snowboarder Shaun White referred to sexual harassment allegations made in a 2016 lawsuit as "gossip" Wednesday after winning a gold medal in the men's halfpipe at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Jake Seiner of the Associated Press noted White was asked whether the lawsuit could "tarnish his reputation," and follow-up questions about the subject were turned down by U.S. Snowboarding executive Nick Alexakos.

"I'm here to talk about the Olympics, not gossip and stuff," he said. "I don't think so." 

White later apologized for those comments in an interview on the Today show:

TMZ Sports provided details of the suit filed by Lena Zawaideh, a former drummer alongside White in a band, Bad Things, before she was fired in 2014. Zawaideh said White sent her sexually explicit and graphic images and forced her to watch "videos sexualizing human fecal matter."

Zawaideh added the San Diego native tried to kiss her during a party in 2010 and forced her to wear "sexually provocative outfits" while with the band.

"Many years ago, I exchanged texts with a friend who is now using them to craft a bogus lawsuit," White said in a 2016 statement. "There is absolutely no coincidence to the timing of her claims, and we will defend this vigorously in court."

The sides reached an undisclosed settlement in May 2017.

White, 31, captured his third Olympic gold medal Wednesday. He previously won the halfpipe competition at the 2006 Torino Games and the 2010 Vancouver Games.