Johnny Weir makes official statement about homophobic Quebecois sportscasters

[Bluebear]

U.S. men's figure skater Johnny Weir says he was 'frankly, pissed' upon learning that the two French-language commentators questioned his gender and made other jibes during his Olympic skating performances last week.

“I’m not somebody to cry over something or to be weak about something. I felt very defiant when I saw these comments. “It wasn’t these two men criticizing my skating… it was them criticizing me as a person, and that was something that really, frankly, pissed me off. I hope more kids can grow up the same way I did and more kids can feel the freedom that I feel to be themselves and to express themselves and that’s the most important thing….” ---Weir said referring to homophobic comments made by two Canadian commentators, one of which suggested Weir should undergo a gender test.

Johnny even placed in sixth place in men's figure skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver so who the hell has a right to make comments like that? Those commentators should issue a public apology or get fired.

Later Weir went to his Twitter page and said:

“Why can’t we all just get along? Seriously? Love everyone like they deserve to be loved. Goodnight lovers.”

http://momsword.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6557:johnny-weir-speaks-out-in-official-statement-about-homophobic-comments&catid=1:latest-reviews&Itemid=50

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Nikki Stone1]

2. K&R

I like this guy,

[City Lights]

3. You tell 'em, Johnny!

:yourock:

[meegbear]

4. Nuf sed!

[redqueen]

5. Nicely said.

:thumbsup:

[begin_within]

6. Although I hate him for wearing real fur, I love him for everything else,

including his elegant skating and his attitude of, "this is me, take it or leave it, I don't give a damn what you think of me." That attitude is more manly than any of those sportscasters or the skaters that try too hard to be macho (cough cough Michael Weiss cough cough Elvis Stojko cough cough). The Russians love Johnny Weir.

[DevonRex]

7. K&R! Go Johnny Go! He's got more guts and than those 2 idiots

put together could ever HOPE to have. And he's athletic and talented. And easy on the eyes. I don't know how anybody could even THINK of saying anything bad about him.

[racaulk]

8. Weir is a class act all the way.

What a fantastic statement! :thumbsup:

K&R

[zonkers]

11. It was a wonderful statement.

[tuvor]

9. Video here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x438119

[crim son]

52. Nice.

I wanted to hear him speak. Now I have and I'm impressed.

[FourScore]

10. K&R Show them how it's done, Johnnie!

[Berry Cool]

12. You go, Johnny!

He's a role model for everyone struggling to just be who they are.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

13. we were pissed that he got the scores he did

We both thought he was MUCH better than the judges' decision. Homophobic score jabbing, looked like.


disappointed he wears real fur, though... that's a shame

[smoogatz]

41. Yep--he should've been third or fourth.

Sixth was highway robbery.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

43. yeah!

We both yelled "BULLfuckingSHIT!!!" at the same time, then just sat there looking at each other shaking our heads.

Highway robbery, that's the truth.

[femrap]

14. He was my favorite skater....

I loved his short program.

Unlike most people, he certainly isn't boring and has a caring attitude about him. I bet he'd be fun to hang out with.

I wish him nothing but the best.

And I think he deserved to be ranked 4th in the competition, not 6th.

Straight men can be real turds when they set their minds to it.

[DesertRat]

15. Mine too. His scores were way too low.

[Barack_America]

17. Subject to the "gay tax" as I saw one person on Twitter put it.

[Yurovsky]

30. Nail, meet head* n/t

n/t

[HughMoran]

16. Good for him!

That's serious bullshit - those announcers should be fired.

[1776Forever]

18. Johnny Weir is a truly wonderful person. When you hear him he is so honest & kind. I love him.

This is my favorite picture of him -



Kisses and hugs Johnny!

[JI7]

19. he got more flowers and gifts than everyone who came ahead of him

[AnnieBW]

20. Go, Johnny, Go!

While I don't think that he skated better than Evan or even Plushy, I definitely think that he deserved better scores, and possibly even the bronze. The Swiss guy fell. Johnny didn't.

[theFrankFactor]

21. K&R Great guy, great attitude, great sense of humor!

[Hekate]

22. You go, Johnny. Mr and Mrs Hekate say: You rock...

:yourock:

[polly7]

23. He just touches the heart, doesn't he.

I'd never heard of him before ...... my loss, he's amazing.

[bridgit]

24. Poor Johnny, as to "Why can't we all just get along?" Well, goddamn good question so...

Who starts doing what?

[EFerrari]

25. There's a link to a vid of him skating here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/02/26/2010-02-26_figure_skater_johnny_weir_lashes_back_at_broadcasters_who_suggested_he_sets_a_ba.html

He was perfect.

[Powdered Toast Man]

26. He skated amazingly.

I couldn't believe the bullshit scores he received.

[MichaelHarris]

27. Johnny

is gay?

[HEyHEY]

28. Please O PLEASE take this very far

Give the Quebecois a taste of backlash for insensitive comments, they accuse others of doing it so much it's nice to see.

[a la izquierda]

29. You tell 'em, Johnny

I'm not sure that he's definitively come out, which doesn't matter to me; but if nothing else, he seems completely free and happy with himself. We should all strive to feel that way, every day.
What a doll!

[Stevenmarc]

31. He gets crap from gay skaters too, like Mark Lund

[Darth_Kitten]

32. All figure skaters seem to get criticized, why is he so special?

Yes, everybody deserves to be loved, so don't make a mountain out of a molehill.

[Bluebear]

39. What a foolish response. What other skater did journalists suggest get a gender test?

[Darth_Kitten]

54. No, not a foolish response, hon, I don't do those.

Why so concerned about what journalists say about figure skaters? It's nothing new?

If you followed it, you would know. Now respond with something useful.

[Bluebear]

62. Useful: I've followed figure skating for 38 years. Also, why are you so nasty?

[Iggo]

47. They said he neeeded a gender test because he might be a woman.

That's not criticism, friend.

[Darth_Kitten]

55. I didn't know that....

but still.....it's nothing to get worked up about. I've heard worse things in figure skating.

[Bluebear]

63. It's right in the original post, actually. Then I mentioned it again to you.

But whatever. :hi:

[fishwax]

53. don't be ridiculous

All skaters get criticized for their skating. This wasn't "criticism" and it wasn't about his skating.

[Darth_Kitten]

56. Learn how to handle a differing opinion.

It's foolish not to. :eyes:

[Iggo]

58. Learn the difference between criticism and insult.

Then you won't be a fool.

[fishwax]

59. you responded, apparently without actually reading the OP

When Iggo pointed out that the comments in question included saying he should have a gender test, you said you didn't know that, even though it's in the second paragraph of the OP.

"hint: just because somebody doesn't agree with you, doesn't make them "foolish", or "ridiculous". :eyes:"

Hint: I didn't use the word "ridiculous" because somebody disagreed with me. I used it because the post appeared to disregard the substance of the OP. Post 55 would seem to indicate that you didn't read the OP particularly carefully, so perhaps it's not that you disregarded the substance of the OP but rather that you never engaged it. I think most of us, at one point or another, have probably responded to OP's without really reading them, and sometimes our posts might be foolish or ridiculous as a result. That doesn't mean we (or you) *are* ridiculous--but I do think the dismissal of what was said about Weir as not being any different from what all skaters go through is, well, silly :silly: :)

But at any rate, Darth_Kitten, I've clearly offended you with my choice of words, and for that I apologize.

[Bluebear]

61. It's TRULY chickenshit sending me a PM then blocking so I can't reply back.

:hi:

[verdalaven]

33. Seems sort of ironic

that a couple of guys who sit on their butts watching sports and commenting on what they see, dissed an Olympic athlete who is most likely in better MANLY shape than they could ever hope to be in. Ever.

Not only are they bigots, but they just have poor manners, personally insulting a guest athlete in their country. They need to be yoinked off Olympic coverage.

[shockra]

34. Can't stand the guy.

After his "crazy fur people" comment he lost my sympathy permanently and forever. Fur is a big issue at this Olympics because of the seal slaughter that is going to take place afterwards. I haven't watched a single minute of the Olympics this winter, for the first time ever, because of it. He has a lot of nerve saying "love everyone..." except animals. Hate is still okay for them, apparently.

And men have been putting down other men by calling them "women" pretty much forever. Or since the beginning of patriarchy. If he didn't see women as inferior, would it bother him?

I'm not happy about having to sit out the Winter Olympics because I especially love the ice skating, and used to look forward to it. I spent all the time I could at the rink when I was a teen. But I couldn't live with myself if I supported this Olympics in any way.

[Bluebear]

37. You missed, say, the pairs, ladies & ice dance because of Weir? OK.

[Coventina]

57. I can't stand the guy either, but what the commentators said was

inexcusable.

Being a jerk is his personal choice, and he should be criticized for that.

But homophobia and hate is not okay.

:mad:

[chatnoir]

35. Wow, so eloquent while obv from his heart and extemporaneous

[northofdenali]

36. Not only do I admire and commend Johnny Weir -

I do the same for those who raised such a confident, self-assured, "dammit this is who I am" guy!

[RKP5637]

38. +1000, n/t

[Indepatriot]

40. Rock on Mr. Weir!

Didn't see the skating but I love the man for standing up for what's right. This kind of bullshit only drags us down as a society. Anyone who stands for LOVE is the shizzznit.

[smoogatz]

42. I love Johnny Weir.

He's honest and courageous.

[1776Forever]

44. Link: Sundance Channel BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR - MONDAYS AT 10:30PM E/P

http://www.sundancechannel.com/johnny-weir/

[gratefultobelib]

45. I love Johnny Weir, period!

[Iggo]

46. delete...wrong spot

[defendandprotect]

48. Was this something our own sportcasters could have said . .. or picked up on???

Amd is this a legacy of Catholicism in Canada?

[Taverner]

49. Johnny Weir just PROVED he was more of a man than those Quebecois Announcers

Que cojones!

[Diane R]

51. Exactly. Well said.

[defendandprotect]

50. Very impressed with him on the video - charming -- need more like him!!!!

[arthritisR_US]

60. as a Canadian I would like to see the two commentators fired. Weir's response

to their remarks was spot on and well said. What a super kid :-)