Johnny Weir Deemed “Not Family Friendly” Enough to Perform in Stars on Ice Tour
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.”
Update: see our new blog post: Olympic Figure Skater Johnny Weir Confirms: ‘Stars on Ice’ Deemed Him “Not Family Friendly” Enough to Perform, March 12, 2010.
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?”
Weir recently announced that he is taking a break from skating in order to “rework his technique.” This news does not release the Stars on Ice sponsors from asking him to participate. The door should be opened to him as one of the most influential skaters in the field today. GLAAD’s President Jarrett Barrios spoke out against homophobia within the sports community in a recent Huffington Post piece.
GLAAD encourages its members and anyone concerned about this type of exclusion and prejudice to send a letter here and sign a supporter’s petition here.
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Filed Under Entertainment, Sports
Tagged: Be Good Johnny Weir, Johnny Weir, Olympics, Outsports, Sports, Stars on Ice Tour
42 Comments to “Johnny Weir Deemed “Not Family Friendly” Enough to Perform in Stars on Ice Tour”
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It’s so diabolical to dismiss American athletes, or soldiers who happen to be gay, Lesbian, gender-unique, or different in any number of ways, in an effort to perpetuate the myths about “those people”. It’s prehistoric, bigoted, and Un-American.
This made me cry. Then throw out two jars of Smuckers in my fridge. I suppose they can get away with hiring whomever they please for their lame ice show, but defaming this talented, intelligent and good man by falsely calling him anti-family is inexcusable, and probably tortious.
[...] Progress: Glaad reports that sponsors have “refused to allow” American figure skater Johnny Weir to join the Stars on [...]
GLAAD, please get to the bottom of this. If there is any truth to this, I will be among the many who wish to strongly let the Stars on Ice folks and their sponsors know how unhappy we are with this decision. Unhappy enough to swear off Smuckers for life.
[...] reports that sponsors have “refused to allow” American figure skater Johnny Weir to join the [...]
[...] Why? Because he’s not “family friendly“. [...]
Petitions, eh? May I suggest you guys are missing another pressure point– where does the Tour on Ice put on its shows? I doubt its on frozen rivers. You can put pressure on the arena owners, which in most cases will be a local government (acting through an arena authority typically).
Even if a particular city lacks a specific anti-discrimination ordinance on point, the city as a landlord is not obligated to lease arena space to anyone, and can certainly impose anti-discrimination terms.. So for any particular venue, if enough local citizens complain, the city can do something about it in any number of ways.
Here’s a link to the tour dates.
http://www.starsonice.com/figure-skating/?content=tickets
Let’s pick one at random— May 23, San Jose “HP Pavilion at San Jose”. HP bought the naming rights but its actually owned by the San Jose Building Authority, “Created by a resolution of the San Jose City Council… the Authority serves on behalf of the City in the oversight and management of a number of City-owned sports facilities”.
http://www.sjaa.com/
I bet most of the other tour venues are likewise controlled by a local government and thus subject to to citizens complaints about the city’s own failure to regulate its tenants. You could try that if the petitions don’t work.
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[...] sexual orientation and gender expression? In what is both an absurd and incomprehensible decision, GLAAD reports that Stars on Ice sponsors are so concerned about the flamboyance of Olympic ice skater Johnny Weir [...]
Why I don’t doubt this is possible. Some blogs are quoting the petition that is out there as the source. The petition states “family friendly” as THEIR conjecture about the reason he was not invited. Please assure us this is real and not based on their language. The source is vital. If this can be cleaned up a bit, I’ll get active, but an anonymous source and a petition’s conjecture that this might be the reason why aren’t cutting it yet.
[...] skater who is putting his brother through college and supporting his parents financially, was not invited to participate in the “Stars on Ice” tour because sponsors thought he was “not family-friendly.” (GLAAD [...]
[...] is an excerpt from the statement the group released on its blog: “Weir’s performance and costume style is sometimes considered flashier than those of [...]
So glad this is getting the attention it deserves. It has been a long battle between the figure skating powers of Smuckers/Stars on Ice and Skate Canada against the Gay community. Homophobia in Figure Skating may sound like an Oxymoron, but I assure you it is not. Read Skate Canadas “Tough” campaign from ABC news, April 30th: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=7473728&page=1
[...] by Smuckers and IMG entertainment, sponsors of the uber-commercialized Stars on Ice—worried about losing hold on the virulent homophobe demographic in the jam and movie markets—have threatened to pull sponsorship if insufficiently “family [...]
[...] story: Johnny Weir Deemed “Not Family Friendly” Enough to Perform in Stars on Ice Tour – GLAAD Tags: Champion, Figure skating, GLAAD, homosexual, Johnny Weir, Olympian, olympics, Sexual [...]
[...] a significant amount of LGBT fans. He remains one of the most outspoken skaters today,” GLAAD blogged [...]
[...] GLAAD is reporting that an anonymous source has told them 3-time U.S. National Figure Skating Champion Johnny Weir has been turned down for the "Stars on Ice" skating tour because he is not "family friendly." Which translates to he is too effeminate which means they think he is probably gay. [...]
Oh my goodness, is this ever ridiculous. Johnny Weir is one of the best skaters for pure entertainment value; apparently he is not a grade-grubber, which has kept him off the Olympic podium, but I love him. If this is true, Smuckers should be ashamed. I will check on Bay Area venues to see where I can lodge my local complaint (thanks for the idea, beowulf!). I will also swear off Smuckers and Stars on Ice. Jerks.
I don’t care whether he’s gay. He is pure beauty on the ice.
[...] a significant amount of LGBT fans. He remains one of the most outspoken skaters today,” GLAAD blogged [...]
[...] Male figure skater apparently too gay for “Stars on Ice” show. Wait, what? var addthis_language = 'en'; Tags: News Briefs [...]
[...] Earlier this week we reported that U.S. Champion and Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir had been denied a spot on the 2010 ‘Stars on Ice Tour,’ because he is “not family friendly.” We obtained the information from a source who wishes to remain anonymous. In an interview with Access Hollywood on Friday, Weir confirmed that he will be excluded from the tour after tour sponsors deemed him “not family friendly.” “It’s for real,” Weir said. “I’ve never been invited to do ‘Stars on Ice’ before, which is the only figure skating tour in the U.S. It’s disappointing that I can’t perform for my American fans… all because I’m not ‘family friendly’ enough.” [...]
NewsBusters: MSNBC’s Ratigan Attacks ‘Stars on Ice’ On Basis of Anonymous Source Cited by GLAAD; Fails to Give Show’s Side of Story
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/ken-shepherd/2010/03/12/msnbcs-ratigan-attacks-stars-ice-basis-anonymous-source-cited-glaad
[...] Earlier this week we reported that U.S. Champion and Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir had been denied a spot on the 2010 ‘Stars on Ice Tour,’ because he is “not family friendly.” We obtained the information from a source who wishes to remain anonymous. In an interview with Access Hollywood on Friday, Weir confirmed that he will be excluded from the tour after tour sponsors deemed him “not family friendly.” “It’s for real,” Weir said. “I’ve never been invited to do ‘Stars on Ice’ before, which is the only figure skating tour in the U.S. It’s disappointing that I can’t perform for my American fans… all because I’m not ‘family friendly’ enough.” [...]
[...] Weir too gay for Stars on Ice tour. In related news, the Pope too Catholic for The [...]
I love Johnny Weir and admire his on so many levels. The real fear is that he’s too effeminate. Being a gay man is OK as long as you’re masculine–even Eminem says so–but people can’t stand a man who’s in any way feminine. Even women get it tough for being like women. Bravo to Weir for doing Lady Gaga routines with true art and dignity. Shame on anyone–especially producers and administrators connected to Ice Skating for crissakes–a field that without gays would include Sonja Henni and Wayne Gretsky–…For shame that they would not take a stance of pride in one of their greatest athletes and artists. Any LGBTs who think this is “just an ice skating issue” are wrong. This is about gender roles and assimilation vs embracing our unique gifts and contributions to the world as queers. Get angry people. Get very angry.
I’m very skeptical. The entire piece jumps to a conclusion based upon what they call “A source” [emphasis mine]. Even the National Enquirer has a higher standard than to start rumors and jump to conclusions based on _one_ anonymous source, who for all we know could be a friend of Weir’s who’s dealing sour grapes. Until someone’s willing to go on the record or there are at least two more unrelated anonymous sources, the story doesn’t hold water. Just to see if Smuckers had a history of being anti-gay, I did a search on “smuckers anti gay -weir”. That means do a search on “smuckers anti gay” but leave out any results with Weir in them.
Go try it for yourselves and see what you get.
[...] them if I’m proven wrong!), my wildest fantasies were triggered, to envision something truly “family friendly” (nudge nudge wink wink). So, I took the bull by the horns, and dreamt up “GAY STARS On [...]
Not Family enough … Oh Dear … just as well Peter Allen was performing in the 70’s and 80’s, as now in the stuffy 2000’s he would not get a gig.
anyway,i support johnny weir forever
You’re quoting an anonymous source – did they provide evidence that the sponsor ever said Johnny wasn’t “family-friendly?” As far as I know, this is a rumor that started a year ago on a message board. Johnny has devoted fans and they tend to go overboard.
Even if the sponsor really said it, might it not have more to do with Johnny’s TV show than his sexual orientation? I like the show, but it isn’t really appropriate for young children. He swears, goes around nearly naked, and does this sort of thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-9ZHOjQaCs
- Voice of Reason
its not because he is gay, its that he is sooooooooooo gay
support him
[...] on Ice adores Johnny Weir…as long as he not skating for Stars on Ice. Contradicting what GLAAD reported last week, Stars on Ice announced they love them some Johnny Weir and all he has done for ice skating. [...]
They said he was’nt “Family Friendly” not that he was anti family and I agree. he’s a arrogant self involved, pompous prima-dona and with statement of his such as: “I’m so proud of the other two guys on the team. I’m usually not a team person. I usually don’t root for people on my team.” and “My mom is getting drunk already.” He’s not a great role model for gay OR straight kids. Dont forget the past issues with PETA. Oh and let’s get all ga ga for someone who wont even come out of the closet
He just generally annoys the ever loving @%$# out of me.
Thanks for the Idea beowulf. Just pounded out a letter to our arena board here in Lucas County (Toledo) Ohio. Discrimination in Lucas County Ohio is against the law and as such I figure there lease iS on its way to cancelation.
[...] past Thursday, GLAAD reported that the two-time Olympian was apparently “not family friendly” enough for co-sponsors [...]
[...] is nothing short of an effort to keep gay men and women out of the mainstream. As the GLAAD blog points out: To say that Weir is “not family friendly” would be a clear jab at his perceived sexual [...]
[...] Johnny Weir Deemed “Not Family Friendly” Enough to Perform in Stars on Ice Tour [...]
[...] skating tour in March, allegedly because he is “not family friendly.” The reason was seen by many as a shot at Weir’s perceived sexual orientation, although the tour denied that “gender [...]
[...] skating tour in March, allegedly because he is “not family friendly.” The reason was seen by many as a shot at Weir’s perceived sexual orientation, although the tour denied that “gender [...]
[...] skating tour in March, allegedly because he is “not family friendly.” The reason was seen by many as a shot at Weir’s perceived sexual orientation, although the tour denied that “gender [...]
They should change their name from The Stars on Ice to Shame on Ice. Because that’s what it really is shameful, they should be sued and boycotted.
This is why a “re-launch of Gay” is needed in the globe today–people are threatened by one type of Gay yet embrace another kind–we should all be celebrated equally–there should be no hierarchy of Gays in the mind set of people. What does “family friendly” mean? Get a grip.