Johnny Weir Deemed “Not Family Friendly” Enough to Perform in Stars on Ice Tour

[kpete]

Johnny Weir Deemed “Not Family Friendly” Enough to Perform in Stars on Ice Tour

March 11, 2010 by Lauren Mattia, GLAAD's Entertainment/Advertising Media Fellow

GLAAD has learned from a source that wishes to remain anonymous that sponsors of the Stars on Ice Tour, which include Smuckers and IMG Entertainment, have refused to allow 3-time US National Champion and 2-time Olympian Johnny Weir to participate because they claim that he is “not family friendly.”

Championship skater Johnny Weir not allowed to perform at Stars on Ice Tour

To say that Weir is “not family friendly” would be a clear jab at his perceived sexual orientation. Weir is extremely involved with his family. He is putting his younger brother through college, and supports the family financially because his father’s disability prohibits him from working. Weir’s dedication to his family can be clearly documented in the Sundance series, Be Good Johnny Weir, which follows him and his family and friends through his life and career as a championship skater.

Weir’s performance and costume style is sometimes considered flashier than those of other skaters, leading to questions about his perceived sexual orientation. While Weir has not officially announced his sexual orientation, he has garnered a significant amount of LGBT fans. He remains one of the most outspoken skaters today, and won an online poll asking fans “Who would you like to see guest star on Stars on Ice?”

more:
http://glaadblog.org/2010/03/11/johnny-weir-deemed-not-family-friendly-enough-to-perform-in-stars-on-ice-tour/

[Jkid]

1. Johnny Weir Deemed “Not Puritanian” Enough to Perform in Stars on Ice Tour

Fixed.

[Pisces]

2. I guess they won't be gettting my family's entertainment dollars.

[Taverner]

3. WTF??? It's not like he does daisy chains during his performance!

He skates very well

What he does or believes is not our concern - unless its genuinely violent (which, trust me, its not)

[progressoid]

59. Well, he couldn't do that by himself could he?

[Taverner]

73. dude he's a skater - they can defy physics with just a mere THOUGHT

[npk]

4. One more organization I can cross of the list

Goodbye Stars on Ice.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. I haven't seen him, but unless he's stripping then let him in the show.

[EFerrari]

9. He's so good. This is outrageous.

[Generator]

14. Pink! On a man! On a costume! The horror!

It's really a joke. Many of the dances are steamy by the straight dancers. But lordy they are skating not stripping. And this is just going to stir up the hornets nest because many people know him now because of the Sundance show. Which I started watching after Kelly Ripa mentioned it.

[roguevalley]

30. god, greenpartyvoter, that is so funny. thank you. I needed it. :)

[Betty88]

47. I had no clue who he was then

I kept hearing about him, now I'm in love check this out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTaVkbl3Dp4

[jonnyblitz]

49. that was amazing! nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

62. He is an amazing skater --

athletic but wildly fluid and artistic.. He is kind of old school, where artistry was valued as much as triple jumps. I have been watching him for years and he is, by far, my favorite male skater out there right now.

[me b zola]

6. Who are the skaters with Stars On Ice?

Perhaps we could lobby them to do the right thing and fight against this. Even if some of them don't like Johnny personally (he seems like a sweetheart to me), surely there are some with a conscience that could be appealed to. A few organized "sick-outs" would hit Stars On Ice in the pocket-book.

[southernyankeebelle]

7. Johnny Weir if you happen to read DU kiddo please have your own tour and

invite skaters you want to join you. I don't think it really has anything to do with his orientation. He comes from a lower middle class family and he speaks what is on his mind. They are a bunch of snobs. Helll I sure won't go to another Stars on Ice ever again if they don't let Johnny particapate.

[City Lights]

8. The Stars on Ice Tour can bite me.

Fucking bigots.

[EFerrari]

10. *** Contact page for Stars on Ice ***

http://www.starsonice.com/figure-skating/?content=contact

[me b zola]

13. From their FAQ page,

I have a suggestion/comment/complaint about Stars on Ice figure skating shows. What do I do?

mailto:[e-mail]

[City Lights]

22. Thanks for the email addy. nt

[me b zola]

27. You are welcome

I've been watching his show on the Sundance channel and I know that Johnny is struggling to know with what to do, stay competitive knowing he is at aging for figure skating standards, or to move on to the next stage of his life. I wondered the other day if he would join the professional skating circuit, but something inside of me "knew" that he would not be welcomed. Smuckers/Stars On Ice is so wrong, I long for the day when this bs is a thing of the past.

[seattlerain]

19. sign the petition too!

They are hoping for 5000 signatures by 3/12. http://www.gopetition.com/online/34546.html

[EFerrari]

23. Welcome to DU, seattlerain!

:hi:

[Mari333]

53. done!

[EFerrari]

66. I was #5630!

[Control-Z]

80. Thank you for the link!!

I've signed the petition. There are 6468 signatures at this time.

Welcome to DU!

[Cetacea]

82. Done.

Thanks for link

[Toasterlad]

56. Just Tried To Email Them; There Server Is Down.

Methinks they're hearing from the public.

[City Lights]

60. I emailed them last night and got this auto response:

Welcome to the 2010 Smucker's Stars on Ice Tour! We will answer your email within three business days in the order that it was received.

If you are emailing to inquire about tickets for the our upcoming 2010 Tour, tickets are on sale NOW and can be purchased at www.starsonice.com. And while you're there, don't forget to join the Stars on Ice Fan Club - all Fan Club members attending the 2010 show will be invited to an exclusive Skater "Meet & Greet" opportunity following the performances!

Thank you for contacting Smucker's Stars on Ice - we look forward to visiting your city very soon!

[DevonRex]

72. I wonder if they'll contact you about what you actually said. I'll email them

too and see what kind of response I get. Probably the same BS email.

[DevonRex]

71. Thank you for that information. I feel strangely protective of Johnny

just like I would if he were my own kid.

[EFerrari]

79. Same here. I have two sons and if one of them were attacked this way,

I'd muster the troops, that's for sure. :grr:

[livetohike]

11. This is pitiful. Johnny Weir is so talented and I love watching

him skate. Shame on the sponsors for depriving young (and old) fans from seeing Johnny skate in this show.

[Cleita]

12. What about all those hussies in short skirts twirling around there on the ice?

Throw a burka over them, so those shameless hussies are more family friendly. Honestly, do the Calvinistic promoters of these events get any sillier?

[Stinky The Clown]

15. I hope their ice melts

I hope Johnny does his own tour. I'll be there, for sure. With feathers on if that pisses off the puritans.

[friendly_iconoclast]

16. My ex used to be a big fan of SoI. After hearing about this, she refuses to go to anymore.

That woman spent big $ to see those shows. I'd imagine she isn't the only one who will not be spending any more money
to support homophobes.

Shame on Stars on Ice.

[Hollywood Hills]

17. Johnny Weir

There is an online petition to include him in Stars on Ice. You should add it to your post.

[seattlerain]

18. Petition to get Johnny on SOI

This is being sent in on 3/12. They are hoping for 5000 signatures by then. http://www.gopetition.com/online/34546.html

[SoxFan]

20. I saw Katarina Witt in Stars On Ice a few years ago

[Patsy Stone]

21. "Won't somebody *please* think of the children?!"

:wtf:

A sexually ambiguous male ice skater? Never before in the history of the world has there been such a thing!

Johnny, you're still my Star on Ice. :loveya:

[SoCalDem]

24. It's his choice to be edgy..and it's their choice to not hire him

He's a fantastic skater, BUT he's chosen to be "out there" in his presentation and demeanor.. It's just that simple..

It's NO different from the (usually) young girls who pierce their faces, dye their hair blue, and then apply for a teller's job at the First National Bank of Staid.

It's not because he's gay.. it's because he's odd..

[Bluebear]

25. It's my choice not to go. I ain't paying to see Michael Weiss :)

[GodlessBiker]

29. He's not odd at all.

[dsc]

32. what a load of hooey

If he were odd in a butch sort of way no one would utter a peep.

[TheWatcher]

38. Spinning Bigotry.

This country needs an Enema.

[EFerrari]

39. And it's their choice to lose tickets sales, too. It's all good!

[Raster]

41. Bullshit! It's because they think he's a gay....

And we all know fags are not family friendly! Right?

"Out there"?

[TommyO]

45. Oh please, "not family friendly" is their god-damned code word for

we think he's a fag.

People that dismiss homophobia disgust me.
\

[Dappleganger]

48. Lame. nt

[jonnyblitz]

50. your post translates to ""that's what he gets for being a

flamboyant faggot."

you better check yourself.

[Toasterlad]

54. Exactly.

[Toasterlad]

55. His Being "Out There" Was Good Enough To Win Him Fans Around the World

not to mention numerous medals and championships.

Piercings and blue hair are not appropriate for the First National Bank of Staid. Flamboyant costuming IS appropriate for figure skating, and always has been.

Your analogy is flawed, and your reasoning is bigoted.

[Arugula Latte]

61. ...

:thumbsdown:

[Sultana]

76. He's NOT odd but

Werk it, bb!

[Control-Z]

81. Bullshit

So Johnny is not the machismo male figure skater we've come to expect? Please. Would an athletic cup and some threatening gestures make him more family friendly and less odd?

Johnny is outstanding.

Your analogy is stupid.

[Pithlet]

83. I'm sorry, but that's crap n/t

[Spazito]

26. That's absolutely bullshit on their part...

I often go to Stars on Ice, was planning to go this year but decided to boycott after the atrocious comments by Elvis Stojko during the Olympics. This decision by Stars on Ice regarding Johnny Weir just adds to my intent to boycott and work on others to do the same.

Thanks for posting this, it is much appreciated.

Recommended.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

63. I couldn't believe the bullshit --

Stojko was trying to spew -- it made me sick to my stomach. :puke:

Hmmm, who would I rather watch skate -- Weir or Stojko???

GIMME MY JOHNNY!!

[Spazito]

64. Yep, I was totally disgusted by Stojko's comments...

until he spewed them I really had no idea he was a homophobe. I had just gotten my notice in the mail of the upcoming Stars on Ice shows and was planning, as usual, to purchase tickets to the show which is headlined by Stojko in Canada. I guess I should thank Stojko for speaking when he did because he saved me the money I would have wasted by buying the tickets and then not using them.

[joeybee12]

67. What did dickwad Elvis have to say now? I know he;'s a homophobe

because of his past comments...but did he say someting about Johnny this time around? All I saw was his whining because his phuck-buddy Plushenko skated only good enough for silver.

[Spazito]

68. In essence, it was him repeating what he had said previously...

I had not heard or read his previous remarks so had no idea of his homophobia. Here is a bit from an interview he did with Salon during the Olympics:

(Salon) "I think the reason some people get offended is because calling a man "effeminate" is usually code for "gay."

(Stoyko) "People in the gay community have to realize they’ve got to take themselves out of it. It's not against anybody. I've been getting heat for this, but there are people behind me saying that they appreciate it. It's about what people can identify with when they're watching the sport. It doesn’t have anything to do with gayness. Effeminate men can identify with effeminate skating. Masculine men can't identify with that. When I watch it, I can't identify because I don't move like that. My consciousness doesn't feel like that."

Stoyko is totally oblivious, it seems, as to how this statement personifies homophobia, imo.

Link to Salon article:

http://www.salon.com/life/winter_olympics_2010/index.html?story=/mwt/feature/2010/02/15/elvis_stojko_interview

[joeybee12]

69. Salon is down for maintenance! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Thanks.

Yeah, what a tool...hey Elvis, you don't skate masculinely, you skate like a person having a seizure...he's always been unbearable to watch.

[fishwax]

28. pathetic

n/t

[donco6]

31. Are they afraid he'll melt the ice or something?

With the flamers they've had over the years? Puhleeze.

Fuck them. Let him start his own production. It'd be 10X better anyway.

[upi402]

33. ice skating is a pageant

hell, even the superbowl is I guess. Steelers were given the superbowl by the officials. waste of time

[JI7]

34. But Plushenko doing the Stripper thing is ok ?

[Unvanguard]

35. Blatant, vile bigotry. Fuck them. n/t

[Withywindle]

36. That sucks. He's just about the most charismatic skater out there.

A real joy to watch.

I do believe he was scored unfairly at the Olympics too.

[The Midway Rebel]

37. I hate this kind of conservative back lash.

It makes me want to scream.

FUCKING PRICKS!

[EFerrari]

40. Scream will you email them. I told them that I can't take my nieces

to a show that discriminates against gay performers because BIGOTRY is not a family value. :)

[Bluebear]

42. Good on you.

:applause:

[EFerrari]

65. He should ut his own thing together. I bet it would sell out.

:hi:

[City Lights]

43. I emailed them almost the same thing.

I said we couldn't support their show because bigotry and discrimination are "not family friendly."

[RedCappedBandit]

44. I love it when I can boycott things I wasn't going to support anyway. nt

[Bluebear]

51. No pain, no pain, eh?

[Toasterlad]

57. So True. However, Don't Forget To Stop Buying Smuckers.

With a name like Smuckers, it's got to be homophobic.

[Pithlet]

84. That's what we intend to do. No more Smuckers.

And we're letting them know why.

[Jakes Progress]

46. The people who could fix this won't

I'm talking about the other skaters. I'm sure some of them are RW tools, but anyone who has spent their lives in figure skating has to have come to grips with reality. But they will sit on their ice and let Johnny take the fall for their cowardice. We saw this with the Dixie Chicks. Some country performers are Democrats, but they hunkered down and let the ladies take the hit, protecting their own asses. Where was liberal Willy or Tim when all their idiot fans needed schooling? Hiding out or playing with Toby.

We'll see the same thing with the skaters. I would love to see them boycott Stars on Ice, but don't expect any guts or bravery on their part. Too much money involved.

[Rosie1223]

52. Do the pairs skaters have to "leave room for Jesus"?

family friendly, indeed.

[StarlightGold]

58. Not family friendly?

Do they mean he has no mom or dad or aunts or uncles or cousins, etc? I'm sure he's friendly to them, so what else could they possibly mean? Oh, they think he's gay? So gay people don't have moms, dads, etc. and are not friendly to them? Is that it? :P

When you think some people can't get any more pathetic...

[DevonRex]

70. Good grief. Johnny Weir's family is marvelous and he adores them.

He's as family friendly as it can get. Every mother on earth would LOVE to have a son like him. I would love to have him in MY family. There's nothing like a son who loves his mom. I should know. I have 2 sons that treat me like gold.

[earth mom]

74. What utter bullshit!

:grr:

[Brewman_Jax]

75. Absolutely ridiculous

Not family friendly? :grr: He's more devoted to his family than my undependable brothers to theirs, in addtion to being a talented skater. I'd say a boycott is in order.

[1776Forever]

77. IMO I would hope that someone like Elton John would back Johnny to develop his own show!

Johnny should try and get his own show going! I know he could make it work and be very profitable!

I just joined the yuku community Johnny Weir message boards where his Johnny Angel's chat and give info on his latest events and news. Here is the link if you want to check it out: http://www.yuku.com/

[nickinSTL]

78. yeah...'cause they wouldn't actually want

an ENTERTAINING skater in the show.

Weir's a decent athlete, but his real strength is his showmanship - which is what Stars on Ice SHOULD be wanting.

Too bad it's apparently run by homophobic idiots.