Olympic Figure Skater Johnny Weir Confirms: ‘Stars on Ice’ Deemed Him “Not Family Friendly” Enough to Perform
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.”
Following the news GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios issued a statement denouncing Johnny Weir’s rejection from ‘Stars on Ice.’
“Johnny Weir is a two time Olympian and three time U.S. champion. Other athletes of his caliber would be granted the opportunity to perform during national tours like Stars on Ice. By choosing not to bring the performances and talent of Johnny Weir to American audiences, Stars on Ice is reinforcing an unfortunate double standard that is too often applied to gay athletes and athletes perceived to be gay.
“GLAAD calls on Stars on Ice to invite all eligible figure skaters because today people of all gender expressions and sexual orientations are part of the fabric of our culture. Athletes of Weir’s caliber deserve the same rights to perform on this, and any, tour.
“We urge community members to speak out against this apparent double standard and call on Stars on Ice and corporate sponsor Smucker’s to demand equal opportunities for all athletes.”
Take Action Now:
GLAAD has generated an online petition telling the sponsors of ‘Stars on Ice’ that it is unacceptable to exclude Weir from the tour’s lineup because they find him “not family friendly.”
Contact information for ‘Stars on Ice’ and Smuckers (a corporate sponsor of ‘Stars on Ice’):
Jennifer Cosgrove, Spokesperson ‘Stars on Ice’
jcosgrove@rbcpr.com
Phone: (201) 760-0200 Ext. 107
Maribeth Badertscher, Director of Corporate Communications, Smuckers
Maribeth.badertscher@jmsmucker.com
Phone: 1-330-682-3000
GLAAD will continue to post any new developments. Be sure to check GLAADblog.org for updates.
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Filed Under Entertainment, Sports
Tagged: Access Hollywood, Johnny Weir, Olympics, Sports, Stars on Ice, Stars on Ice Tour
13 Comments to “Olympic Figure Skater Johnny Weir Confirms: ‘Stars on Ice’ Deemed Him “Not Family Friendly” Enough to Perform”
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I find it really sad that so many US skaters are willing to join a tour that openly discriminates against gays as long as it will pay them, and so many fans will buy tickets. Does no one have the moral fortitude to stand up for what is right? If the tour had a ban on blacks or Jews, would Evan Lysacek, Tanith Belbin, Sasha Cohen and Jeremy Abbott all be willing to skate and take a paycheck anyway? Is it okay to support discrimination as long as YOU are not the one being discriminated against. Shame on them.
People need to boycott both Stars on Ice and all Smuckers products (that includes Knotts Berry Farm jams, Crisco, Folgers, JIF peanut butter and Folgers coffee). Giving these people your money is supporting discrimination.
This is one gay man who is so disappointed that GLAAD would post a story bashing Smuckers. I live near the corporate headquarters for Smuckers and what you may not realize is
SMUCKERS STARTED OFFERING SAME SEX DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS THIS YEAR.
This has nothing to do with Weir being gay, and everything to do with his particular anti-family friendly behavior.
GLAAD maybe you should applaud Smuckers for its actions earlier in the year rather than bash them for wanting to hire skaters that know how to behave themselves.
[...] see our new blog post: Olympic Figure Skater Johnny Weir Confirms: ‘Stars on Ice’ Deemed Him “Not Family Friendly” …. Championship skater Johnny Weir not allowed to perform at Stars on Ice [...]
To sodisappointed:
It’s great that they started offering the benefits but doing the right thing in one area doesn’t give them a free pass to discriminate based on sexual orientation/gender expression. You might not want to believe it but that is exactly what is going on. This is the “anti-family friendly” behavior they are trying to block:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8gtK3gtI0g
Johnny Weir is the Tiger Woods of skating…He makes me want to watch the sport..Not to mention financially what an assinine business decision..
So exactly how SHOULD he behave himself? By being sure to not be perceived as possibly gay?
So Smuckers offers same sex benefits. Does this free them up to be homophobic in other ways? That’s like saying that Christians say they worship a God of love, so they never act out of hatred. We all know that’s not true.
Sodisappointed..Smuckers should be applauded for deciding to offer domestic partner benefits this year? THIS YEAR? Are you kidding? Companies have been offering domestic partner benefits for years, Smuckers deserves nothing for doing the right thing years after everyone else. And if you think that because a company offers domestic partner benefits, it menas they can’t be capable of making bigoted decisions, you’re sadly deluded. Have fun in your bubble, suckin down your strawberry jelly.
…Smuckers didn’t *start* offering domestic partner benefits *until 2010* and that’s your argument for their having a great record on LGBT issues?
GLAAD should have taken on homophobia in figure skating years ago, but better late than never. Scott Hamilton, the founder of “Stars on Ice” is a born again Christian, who speaks on Pat Robertsons 700 Club. Smuckers is a major sponsor of the Republican Party. The only out gay man ‘Stars on Ice’ ever had was Brian Orser and he was outed years after he was hired. Brian stated in the ‘Globe and Mail’ at the time, he was worried that his outing would get him fired. The Figure Skating hall of fame is located in Colorado Springs, the home of James Dobson’s, Focus on the Family.
If Smuckers just started offering benefits this year,they are years behind on that one.
My response after contacting Smuckers:
Dear Mr. Stevenson,
Thank you for contacting The J. M. Smucker Company regarding your questions about our Stars on Ice Sponsorship. Our Company has been a proud supporter of figure skating for many years.
We are disappointed that there is untrue and inaccurate information being disseminated about the selection of athletes to perform on the Stars on Ice tour. Each year IMG, owner of the tour, assembles a team of exciting, talented and accomplished figure skaters.
The J. M. Smucker Company would not tolerate discrimination of any kind during the selection process of tour athletes.
The current cast of the Stars on Ice tour is comprised of very talented performers including the Olympic Gold medalist, Evan Lysacek and the current U.S. National Champion, Jeremy Abbott.
While IMG wishes it could accommodate additional talented skaters as part of the cast, the fact is IMG cannot sign every skater to participate on the tour.
We thank you again for contacting us and allowing us the opportunity to clarify the inaccurate information being reported about the Stars on Ice tour.
Sincerely,
Carla Pickle
Consumer Relations Representative
[...] was not a part of its decision-making process, the three-time national champion disagrees. He told GLAAD that "it's for real," adding: "I've never been invited to do 'Stars on Ice' before, which is the [...]
Wow! I have to say I am shcoked and ASHAMED at all of your responses to my stament that Smucker’s should be applauded for offering Same Sex Domestic Partner Benefits this year.
The point is, they are being progressive. They are not legally required to offer such benefits, yet they do. There are still literally thousands of large companies in the US that aren’t so progessive.
In the grand scheme of things, granting gay employees and their spouses equal benefits is SO SO SO SO much more imporatant than a freaking ice show.
Riddle me this, why would a company who has taken measures to give gay employees equal benefits, turn around and discriminate against another gay person. It doesnt make sense.
Smuckers is evasive. Their response to my complaint:
Thank you for contacting The J. M. Smucker Company regarding your questions about our Stars on Ice Sponsorship. Our Company has been a proud supporter of figure skating for many years.
We are disappointed that there is untrue and inaccurate information being disseminated about the selection of athletes to perform on the Stars on Ice tour. Each year IMG, owner of the tour, assembles a team of exciting, talented and accomplished figure skaters.
The J. M. Smucker Company would not tolerate discrimination of any kind during the selection process of tour athletes.
The current cast of the Stars on Ice tour is comprised of very talented performers including the Olympic Gold medalist, Evan Lysacek and the current U.S. National Champion, Jeremy Abbott.
While IMG wishes it could accommodate additional talented skaters as part of the cast, the fact is IMG cannot sign every skater to participate on the tour.
We thank you again for contacting us and allowing us the opportunity to clarify the inaccurate information being reported about the Stars on Ice tour.
Sincerely,