Rachael Gunn, the Australian breakdancer whose “kangaroo dance” at the Paris Olympics was widely ridiculed, has spoken out about her performance.

In a video posted on Instagram, the 36-year-old thanked her fans for their “positive attitude,” but said the reactions she faced were “pretty devastating.”

“I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your life,” Gunn said. “That’s what I hoped. I didn’t realize that it would also open the door to so much hate, which was, quite frankly, pretty devastating.”

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“I took it very seriously,” she continued. “I worked my ass off preparing for the Olympics and really gave it my all.”

Gunn, a Sydney university professor, performed a “kangaroo dance” during her routine, among other questionable moves. According to multiple reports, Gunn did not receive a single point from any of the nine judges in either round, but in her video she claimed that “there aren’t really any points in breaking.”

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Gunn addressed the “allegations and misinformation” that have emerged since her performance, including accusations that she “rigged” the Olympic qualification process and false rumors that Gunn and her husband, fellow breakdancer Samuel Free, held positions in Australian breakdancing organizations.

More than 40,000 people signed a petition on Change.org denouncing Gunn’s appearance. The petition was apparently deleted on Thursday.

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The Australian Olympic Committee said on Thursday that the qualifying event was held under the Olympic qualifying system established by the international governing body, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), and approved by the International Olympic Committee.

The AOC said the jury for the event was selected by the WDSF and consisted of nine independent international judges.

“It’s a disgrace that these falsehoods, fabricated by an anonymous person, can be published in this way,” said Matt Carroll, CEO of the AOC. “This is bullying and harassment and defamatory… No athlete who has represented their country at the Olympics should be treated in this way.”

In her video, Gunn also called on the press to “stop bullying my family, my friends, the Australian breakdancing community and the street dance community in general.”

“Everyone has been through a lot because of this, so I ask that you respect their privacy,” Gunn said.

The Olympic breakthrough may have been a one-off event in Paris. The sport is not on the competition list in Los Angeles in 2028 and is unlikely to appear in Brisbane, Australia, in 2032.