UPDATE: Johnny Weir (via Access Hollywood, via Towleroad) talks about the snub:
It is for real. I’ve never been invited to do ‘Star on Ice’ before, which is the only figure skating tour in the U.S., and it’s disappointing that I can’t perform for my American fans… all because I’m not ‘family friendly’ enough…. I totally understand that I am a little outrageous in some ways… I’m a little un-P.C., but I really wish I had the chance to perform for the American fans…. Maybe right now, just artistically and creatively, I’d love to have my own show and my own tour and involve some big musical acts, like maybe getting Lady Gaga…. Nobody would be too un-family friendly for my show.
Before the Olympics, Chad Conley told us that if Johnny Weir didn’t win a medal in Vancouver, he could forget about an invitation to Stars on Ice. Despite other non-medal winners being invited to participated with Stars on Ice, Conley’s prediction is playing out now as Weir has yet to be invited to participate with the North American skating tour (even if it’s not for the reasons Chad said). And we’ve gotten some emails from fans looking to pressure the tour to invite Weir.
One such fan is Jennifer P., and she lays out the case far better than I could:
Stars on Ice is the only figure skating tour left in the United States. In recent years, they have employed every single top American skater, either as full-time cast members or in guest spots, except for Johnny Weir. US skaters who have acheived far less than him, such as Adam Rippon, Ryan Bradley, Brandon Mroz, Alissa Czisny, Kimmie Meissner, Mirai Nagasu and many others are all invited to perform with SOI, yet Johnny is excluded. Jeremy Abbott and Evan Lysacek have just been hired as full-time cast members.
Fingers seem to be pointing at Smucker’s, the only major corporate sponsor of Stars on Ice. The claim is that Smucker’s and Stars on Ice have deemed that Weir isn’t “family-friendly” enough. Other blogs are stating this as fact, some citing anonymous sources. These anonymous sources are likely the same people who have contacted us: Weir fans or Weir’s business associates. So we’re not jumping to this conclusion without some cold, hard facts.
Still, it doesn’t look good. Weir is arguably the biggest figure-skating personality in the country, and his fans follow him everywhere. It’s hard to believe the reason behind the snub is the Tour’s bottom line, so there’s got to be another reason.
You can sign an online petition to push Stars on Ice to include Weir.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Smucker’s family of brands includes:
Adams (organic peanut butter), Crisco (oil), Crosse & Blackwell (sauces, chutney, relishes), Dunkin’ Donuts, Dutch Girl, Eagle Brand (condensed milk), Folgers (coffee), Hungry Jack (mashed potatoes, pancake mix, syrup), Jif (peanut butter), Kava (coffee), Knott’s Berry Farm (jams), Laura Scudders (peanut butter), Magnolia (condensed milk), Martha White (flour and mixes), Mary Ellen, Millstone (coffee), Natural Brew, Nature’s Peak (frozen fruit), None Such (mincemeat), PET (evaporated milk), Pillsbury, R.W. Knudsen Family (juice), Santa Cruz Organic (juice and jams), Smucker’s, White Lily (flour).
If they treat one skater this way, I wonder what they do to their many employees and their families.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 11:53 AM
I think much of this comes down to Weir’s public antics. Less to do with being gay(ish) or “family Friendly”. Face it, he carries a lot of drama around with him and that kind of distraction is what the tour would like to avoid.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Johnny has repeatedly stated that he would skate in Stars on Ice if asked. And year after year, despite his many accomplishments and popularity, he’s been left off. Other skaters, with lesser credentials and far fewer fans are asked because they fit the more conservative ‘mold’ that Smucker’s (the major sponsor of SOI) requires. With his huge fan base, here in the US and internationally (yes, many fans will travel far to see their favorite skater) , one can only wonder what a difference he might make in ticket sales. I’ve been boycotting Smuckers for over a year now, and I can assure all the jam lovers out there that I don’t miss them a bit. Many superior products are on the shelf. Boycott Smucker’s for their obvious GLBT discrimination. While Johnny’s never said, either way, Smuckers has spoken. They sell their products and push their ultra-conservative, uninformed viewpoint on us and I’m not having it! Support Johnny Weir!! (and this comes from a very straight, mother of three who admires Johnny for his honesty and kindness, as well as awesome skating)
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 12:16 PM
Jeremy Abbott is gay and he’s been invited to the tour this season.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 12:30 PM
He’s family friendly enough to compete for his country in the Olympic Games but not family friendly enough to perform in their skating tour? Are they idiots, bigots or both?
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 12:49 PM
If it is true that Smucker’s has said that Mr. Weir is not ‘family friendly’, then that is an especially pernicious lie. Mr. Weir, as I understand it, is the sole financial support of his seriously ill father and may also be supporting the rest of his family.
I hate the fact that ‘family friendly’ has become code for anti-gay.
It is an especially pernicious lie as it paints all gays with a broad brush as being lower than dirt because we supposedly hate our own families or the families of others; it is patently untrue and Smucker’s, as a family company, should be truly ashamed if they are promoting this hate filled meme.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 1:42 PM
Yes, there are other gay skaters on the tour, but only ones who take pains to hide their sexuality (which Johnny Weir clearly does not). For example, Todd Eldredge was only hired by SOI after having a big, public wedding that was covered by Entertainment Tonight and a major bridal magazine – few people knew that his “marriage” was very quietly annulled a few months later, or that the “couple” never even lived together. Jeremy Abbott never mentions anywhere that he is in a long-term relationship with a male pairs skater, and is lucky enough that the media is so obsessed with Johnny Weir’s sexuality that they never question his. And Evan Lysacek takes great pains to tell every media person he can that he is “masculine” and dated “hot” Tanith Belbin, LOL. Johnny Weir just won’t play the public “straight guy” game, and he shouldn’t have to.
I hate the idea that being bigoted against gays is considered the same thing as being “family friendly”. Gays and their supporters have families, too.
Johnny Weir is enormously popular, and Stars on Ice desperately needs to bring in fans (they had to drop 20 dates from their tour this year because of poor ticket sales). Yet SOI is willing to alienate skating fans because they are so narrow-minded and backward-thinking.
If you buy tickets to SOI or purchase Smuckers products, know that you are sponsoring bigotry and discrimination. Sometimes it’s more important to do the right thing than the easy thing.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 1:46 PM
OK Cyd, so you won’t jump to conclusions without “cold hard facts”. You’re a journalist, right? So get some facts!
Call Smuckers and ask them to comment. Call Scott Hamilton and IMG and do the same. Talk to Johnny Weir.
Why is no one actually looking into this story? It would seem that at least the gay press would care enough about something like this to try and get to the bottom of it.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 1:47 PM
Of course it’s the automatic assumption that “it must be because Johnny is gay”, never minding the antics and drama which follows him… *rollseyes*
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 1:49 PM
The claim is that Smucker’s and Stars on Ice have deemed that Weir isn’t “family-friendly” enough??? Uh, hello the only people to go to Stars on Ice is women and GAY MEN!!! Maybe they are afraid that Johnny would out all of the closeted old queens at Smuckers that cruize the parks for annoymous gay sex, that would be hilarious! You go Johnny, you have a much better chance at making a name for yourself with what you are currently doing with your reality show than to bow down to those bunch a freaks and soon to be “HAS BEENS” that are skating.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 2:07 PM
Weir has lived on the edge of controversy, from his fur flap to his flapping lips. Now, bleeding hearts think sponsors should endorse him. Wake up!
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 2:26 PM
Figure skating is the only “sport” in the world where Johnny Weir would be considered too outrageous and controversial to be allowed to participate. What a joke. His so-called “antics” are so tame compared to what goes on in most sports that they can’t even compare.
The guy isn’t running dog-fighting rings. He’s never been accused of sexual assault. He isn’t getting arrested for beating up his significant other or carrying illegal weapons or driving drunk. He isn’t charging into the stands at competitions and brawling with fans. No, those things are common among athletes in other sports, all of whom continue to participate in their sports and get big endorsements.
But heaven forbid a figure skater doesn’t adhere to the prim and proper and only spout pre-approved PC soundbites about how he wants to make skating MASCULINE and is so very EMBARRASSED by all the sequins, etc. Everyone is all up and arms about how outrageous he is and how he should be banned and doesn’t deserve to be sponsored! The horror!
Skating is stuck in the 1950s. No wonder the stands are half empty at competitions and shows. Who can relate to this backward, uptight “sport” any more?
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 3:11 PM
Here are the numbers—6th at the Olympics and 3rd at nationals. Johnny is just being Johnny. He loves to be in the spot light. When did ‘Stars on Ice’ start putting the 6th place skater in their show? It is called ‘Stars on Ice’ for a reason.
Here are the facts. Jeremy Abbott is the National Champion. Evan won the Gold at the Olympics and Ryan Bradley outskated you at Nationals.
In all fairness this is Evan’s time. He won the gold. He is the Olympic Champ. Let him have the glory. He won the gold fair and square. Johnny you came in 6th.
Rudy Galindo was just as flamboyant as Johnny and he has been on the show for years. Johnny would like us to forget this fact.
And those who follow the sport knows that Johnny has been taking pot shots at Evan for years. This is not a person known for being a good sport. This is a man who has shown more support for the Soviet Union then the U.S.of A. That is his choice because he loves playing the outcast. Johnny hasn’t changed his spots, my friend.
So let us remember that Johnny came in SIXTH at the Olympic and hasn’t been the U.S. champ for 3 years.
Johnny win something and then you can talk. Instead all you want is for us to feed your big ego. This is not about being gay (which he has never admitted to saying his personal life is private). This is about Johnny being so desperate to stay in the public eye. Let us not fall into the same trap we did with Tim Tebow. Let us get our fact straight first before we react.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 5:22 PM
It’s Russia now, and he has more support there than in the US
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 5:37 PM
He simulated an orgasm with an inanimate object. Come on guys, this is a ridiculous argument. There are other gays at the ice show. But this is who he wants to be portrayed as. There is gay, and there is this:
http://www.queerty.com/this-is-johnny-weirs-o-face-20100311/
It has nothing to do with him being gay. IT has to do with behavior that is not even necessary gay. It is his need to be so on the edge that he just edged himself to an orgasm on tv. And that is the difference.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Johnny Weir is a three-time U.S. Nationals Gold Medalist and 2008 World Bronze medalist. There was widespread booing of the Olympic judges for underscoring of Johnny Weir. In fact, many folks promoting the athletic end of skating, such as Elvis Stojko and Scott Hamilton, considered Johnny underscored.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 6:05 PM
BubbaE, that episode only appeared this week. But clearly Smuckers has the ability to see into the future and deny him on the basis of that.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Johnny last won the national in 2006. This is 2010. There are new champion and he doesn’t want to go to the Worlds. And Ryan Bradley was underscored to be fair and honest and should have made the team in Johnny’s place.
Let’s see 2009 the world champion, not the bronze champion was Evan.
The point is clear. He came in 6th, underscored or not.
Our U.S. ladies were underscore too but you do not hear them saying anything. Rather our 4th place lady had the class and dignity to be excited about coming in 4th when we all know that she outskated the Canadian. Class and dignity is something a true champion has.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 6:44 PM
Please, you don’t think these corporate sponsorships and the corporate contracts that each of these athletes have, don’t allow them to know and or view any material that they are a part of before it is broadcast to us?
I have said it before and I will say it again, there is a difference between being gay and being what he is. And don’t anyone tell me he is edgy or effeminate. He is neither. He is a poser who isn’t even out.
He puts on this image and does things that distract from his talent. Remember the fox hair? That wasn’t provocative, that was just stupid and cruel. And what for? A little controversy.
For the record it is an act, it is not an innate thing like his supposed sexuality. He can put on this act if he wants, but it comes with consequences. Everything does. Smuckers has no obligation to hire him.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 8:18 PM
who knew Johnny was this polarizing even within the gay community? I think he’s awesome and hey Dawson 6th in the Olympics and second among American men is pretty damn good for a freaking Stars on Ice tour. Johnny is certainly worthy and has tons of fans who would go see him, but hey if Smuckers doesn’t need the cash then they can piss off! from now on i’m buying store-brand jam!
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 9:18 PM
I agree BubbaE. He has the gay community defending him vehemently then one day he will probably zap it to them that he is marrying his pregnant girlfriend no one knew about. He is deliberately ambiguous. I distrust the way he always says people think they know what he is by appearances….but they would be surprised. Everything he says can be taken 2 ways. The only thing he has said plainly is he wants to be a father someday…cant accomplish that with another fella. I think he is a FRAUD. When he does come out he intends to shock the world with that he is STRAIGHT. Then he will think he can just dismiss the gay communitys outrage with that he never said he was one of them. But it is a VERY dangerous game he is playing. You dont deceive an entire segment of the population that revered you and make fools of them when they had your back. John Lennon was killed for much much less.
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 10:01 PM
Oh, heavens to Betsy, a homosexual in figure skating! Clutch your pearls and hide your eyes, ladies! Someone get the smelling salts, Mabel and Fanny are swooning.
Ever take a look at the stands during a skating show or competition on TV? They’re half-empty and the only people in them are little old ladies with knitting needles. Skating just can’t attract young fans any more, and its their own damn fault.
They’ve got ONE guy who actually appeals to the Lady Gaga, So You Think You Can Dance, MTV crowd, and they ban him for being too shockingly gay. Serves them right that this sport is dying.
I’m mostly disappointed in the skaters who join this farce of a show, knowing how discriminatory it is. I’m sure they want the paycheck, but is it really morally right to participate in discrimination for pay? What if SOI had a ban on Jews performing with the show to satisfy its “conservative” sponsor Smuckers? Would they be okay with that too?
on Mar 12th, 2010 at 10:32 PM
Could it be a coincidence that Scott Hamilton is one of the producers of SOI and a devout “born again” Christian (not uncommon for those who have gone through cancer) and perhaps HIS views may be driving the exclusion of Johnny Weir from the SOI show? I would not be surprised, as Hamilton’s comments while acting as commentator in Vancouver and discussing Weir were patronizing towards him at best, and denegrating at times. The silence was deafening while Weir was skating, the comments curt, while Hamilton and friends could not shut up during Evan’s skate, oooh’ing and aaaah’ing over every move. It’s plain as the nose on your face people. Johnny Weir should have his OWN skate show, and stick it to those smuckers.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:08 AM
Johnny Weir is a flamboyant skater, and the United States has never seemed to know what to do with openly flamboyant skaters of _whatever_ sexuality. (Christopher Bowman was a straight man but was a very flamboyant man, too. And the USFSA didn’t seem to care about him; the poor man died young, because he never got a handle on himself. And yet he was one of the very best figure skaters the United States has seen in the last thirty years.)
I don’t care if Weir is straight, transgendered, bisexual or gay. I do care that he isn’t able to skate in Stars on Ice and _never_ has been included in a SoI show even when he was the reigning US National Champion.
Btw, for those who are complaining about his sixth place finish, let me remind you all that Weir got the only standing ovation among the top six skaters — the only one. THE ONLY ONE. Not Lysacek. Not Lambiel. Not Plushenko, who seemed very discombobulated he had to skate after Weir and the folks booing the way too low scores — Weir was underscored in the _artistic_ elements (program component scores), and he’s the best artistic skater in the world today! That never happens! (Except it did, here, because the judges weren’t happy about a comment Weir made about another judge, Joe Inman.)
Weir deserved the bronze medal because he skated a clean, expressive short program and a near-flawless long program with eight clean triples, a triple-triple combination, two Triple Axels (the second-hardest jump; only a quad is harder to do), and a three-jump combo consisting of a triple and two doubles (same as Lysacek, the last). Weir came in sixth behind three men _who fell_. One fell badly, and looked for a moment as if he were crashing into the boards a la hockey — and that man, Daisuke Takahashi, won the bronze medal! (Yes, Takahashi did a lot well afterwards, though his spins were horrible. But he didn’t deserve the bronze that night. And his short program was not so much better than Weir’s that he deserved it based solely on the short program alone.)
Yes, Weir enjoys what Scott Hamilton has called “shameless self-promotion” (something Hamilton has said about himself, mind, as well). So what?
I think the reason Stars on Ice did this is because they don’t care for Weir, personally. And that’s really stupid, because the man will sell tickets. Lots and lots and lots of tickets. Regardless of his sexuality! (And last I checked, his sexuality is irrelevant to the discussion anyway. It’s 2010! It’s figure skating! Get with the program!)
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 3:24 AM
If it’s Smuckers, it has to be discrimination. Look folks, I saw his performance in the Olympics….everyone was extremely surprised at the low scores given his spectacular athletic abilities and nearly flawless performance. He has never been invited to join, even when he was winning more contests and medals. If you can’t put 2+2 together, go back to grade school. Wake up folks.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:41 PM
“Dawson: Rudy Galindo was just as flamboyant as Johnny and he has been on the show for years. Johnny would like us to forget this fact.”
Rudy Galindo was on Champions on Ice, which had nothing to do with SOI.
SOI said they don’t have room for every skater, but their website claims they’ll add more. As for only hiring champions, they never had Johnny on the tour, neither when he was the 3-time US Champion, not in 2008 when he tied with Lysacek for the Championship and was the only American who got a medal at Worlds thus ensuring the 3 places for USFSA.
It’s business, they can hire whoever they want, but the point is the reason, which isn’t even a good business decision, it’s just bigotry.
Champions on Ice always seemed OK with crazies like Oksana Baiul or “flamboyant personalities” like Galindo and Weir on their tour. Come to think of it, the Japanese and Korean big shows don’t have a problem with Johnny either.
USFSA and SOI are trying to push new people away from FS, I’d say their succeeding.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 3:05 PM
Johnny Weir is a great skater and seems like a decent guy but he’s his own show and would probably upstage the other skaters at SOI. He should’ve gotten the bronze at the Olympics but ice skating is very political, and scores are tweaked despite the new scoring system. We need to go back to the old system… Alissa Czisny is the most elegant skater in history but she didn’t even make it to the Olympics. The new system makes everybody jump up and down like popcorn to rack up points, so everyone’s skating looks pretty much the same and there’s no real diversity in style anymore. Smuckers Raspberry Preserves are the best in the world but they’re too expensive so I don’t buy them anymore. I blame everything in the world on the new &%#! scoring system…it’s killing ice skating.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 5:32 PM
Stars on Ice USA just hired Joannie Rochette, even though they said they didn’t have any more room. Why? Joannie Rochette is the Canadian spokesperson for World Vision Christian Ministries, an Evangelical Christian charity and member of the World Evangelical Association. Stars on Ice promotes this religious charity on their Canadian site. Check it out http://www.starsonice.ca
on Mar 14th, 2010 at 6:14 PM
Now wait a minute, it just occurred to me that Kim Yu Na isn’t in Stars On Ice either, and she’s the best skater in the world. By the way, I’d like to see her star in a Hollywood movie soon. Her skating is phenomenal. I think the answer is clear, Weir should have his own ice show. He could open in Vegas.
on Mar 15th, 2010 at 8:30 PM
Correction–Rudy Galindo did not skate in ‘Stars on Ice’ but Brian Orser did. Thanks for reminding me Mr. Sexy Rexy. So if ‘Stars on Ice’ is so anti-gay please tell me why Brian Orser was on the show for years? He was involved in a palimony suit with his ex-boy friend.
The numbers are clear folks———–6th place. He did not win nationals in 2008 he came in second. There are no ties in 2008. Trying to change the record books is just nonsense. Please show me where it says it was a tie.
Johnny came in 6th. That is in the book whether people agree or disagree with his score. He came in 6th. So those great defenders of Johnny I suggest you find a sponcer who will give Johnny his own show with all the other 6th place skaters. It should be a great show.
The number speak for what they are, 6th in the Olympics and 3rd in nationals that rightfully belong to Ryan Bradley. But you don’t hear Ryan saying he was robbed. ‘Stars on Ice’ is about champions and Johnny never was a world champion or a silver medalist. He last won a national crown in 2006. He has no Olympic medals. Why is that so hard for some people?
As I have said before, the glory belongs to Evan. Johnny has been a very rude sport and the sport is subjective. You can cry all you want but the record books will still say 6th place.
on Mar 16th, 2010 at 5:34 PM
I am sure I am in the minority here, but I have no problem with Johnny Weir being rejected by the SOI. I used to go to these shows for years in the late 80s and throughout the 90s. Everyone knew the majority of the soloists were gay. OK, so they hid their sexuality… but so did many other people. Most have since come out.
Johnny Weir is just someone who is totally over the top. There is nothing wrong with that. However, if the SOI feels there is no place for him in their show (and he does NOT get along with other skaters, even the gay ones!), then that is their prerogative. They should not be condemned.
I am glad that he did do well in the Olympics. He has much to be proud about. But still, there is no reason why there should be so much assault on the tour for not wanting him around. Besides, who in heck knows what happened behind closed doors. I can only imagine he is VERY difficult to deal with….
But that is me!
on Mar 18th, 2010 at 10:05 AM
Dawson……. you are messing with the facts..again. Brian Orser was outed long after ‘Stars on Ice’ hired him. He said at the time, he was worried he would get fired, he then left finishing only the small Canadian tour…..Stop making it look like SOI hired an openly gay man, they never have. You must be working for SOI.
on Mar 31st, 2010 at 7:03 PM
Dawson……. you are messing with the facts..again. Brian Orser was outed long after ‘Stars on Ice’ hired him. He said at the time, he was worried he would get fired, he then left finishing only the small Canadian tour…..Stop making it look like SOI hired an openly gay man, they never have. You must be working for SOI.
on Mar 31st, 2010 at 7:07 PM
sorry, but den said exactly what i wanted to say so i copied and pasted it..