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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2020 6:08:26 GMT
On Sunday evening, in the midst of protests and violence across the nation in the wake of the death of George Floyd, well-known NBC figure skating commentator Johnny Weir sent out a tweet that read, in part, “I shouldn’t have to go to bed with a loaded gun nearby,” ending it with two hashtags: #ICantBreathe and #StopLooting.
The full tweet, since deleted, said this: “I understand that I’ll never understand. I understand that you’ll never understand. Make peace. Love your people. I shouldn’t have to go to bed with a loaded gun nearby. #ICantBreathe #StopLooting”
As a series of comments criticizing the tweet built in the early-morning hours, Weir sent another tweet at 4:55 a.m.:
“Just awoke in the night and realized I made a major typo/error and that completely changed what I was trying to express. I didn’t check it again before I slept & was horrified when I saw my blunder. Please excuse me.”
He did not explain what the major typo/error was.
Weir, a three-time U.S. national champion and two-time Olympian, did not reply to a request for comment made through NBC public relations. Network spokesperson Dan Masonson emailed that Weir’s manager said “he’s busy on a job today.”
NBC figure skating commentator Johnny Weir at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi
Three days before Weir’s tweet, two-time U.S. national champion and 2018 Olympic ice dancer Zach Donohue wrote this: “Humanity needs an update #AllLivesMatter #takeastand #enoughisenough"
Several hours later, after receiving a series of critical replies on Twitter, he sent another tweet saying he had deleted the #AllLivesMatter tweet.
“First, I want to admit clearly that my tweet was a mistake. An uneducated, poorly thought out reaction. While I cannot undo or defend what was actually tweeted, I want to clarify that my intention was not to in anyway detract from the #blacklivesmatter movement. And most certainly not to support any movement or peoples that would stand against equality or try to belittle the very real racism and white privilege existing in our world.”
In another figure skating social media development, Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion Evgeni Plushenko of Russia appeared on his official Instagram account a few days ago wearing a gray T-shirt featuring Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat.
It’s unlikely there will be an apology for that one.
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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2020 20:58:02 GMT
Russian figure skater Alexei Krasnozhon, who competes for the US, has spoken out against the protests now sweeping the country, saying he is ready to resist looting and violence with help of a “baseball bat.” The skater, who moved to Dallas in 2014, said he is alarmed by the violence and aggression being displayed by those protesting over the killing of unarmed black civilian George Floyd in Minneapolis.  “I heard about the killing of George Floyd. This is a terrible tragedy. Now protests are taking place just five kilometers away from my home. It’s not frightening, but I’m concerned over the protests. I have never seen such violence here,” Krasnozhon said. The skater condemned the actions of the police in the death of Floyd, but stressed that violence is no way to battle injustice and brutality.“Of course, a police officer flagrantly abused his authority and should be punished. But I wouldn’t join the protests. It’s not right to resort to violence when protesting against violence. "There was a man here in Dallas who tried to save his business from looters. He was beaten up by dozens of protesters. They are destroying the lives of innocent people, and that’s not right. I don’t have my own business, but I have a baseball bat. If protesters enter my home, I’m ready to meet them,” he said. Krasnozhon was widely regarded as one of the most talented junior skaters in Russia. He was coached by famed specialist Alexei Mishin in St. Petersburg. http://instagram.com/p/B_LTlnfJuaw Six years ago he moved to the US, where he now resides and trains. In 2015 the Russian Figure Skating Federation formally released Krasnozhon, allowing him to compete internationally for the US team. |
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Post by Admin on Jun 3, 2020 6:23:20 GMT
Dear Team USA athletes – Like so many of you, I have watched the events of the past week unfold with a deep sense of despair and helplessness – questioning what I can do, what we in the Olympic and Paralympic community can do, and what all of us in our local communities can do, to bring forth honest conversation and enact necessary change. We absolutely condemn the systemic inequality that disproportionately impacts Black Americans in the United States. It has no place in ours or any other community. It is clear there are no forces as ugly, damaging and demeaning as racism and marginalization practiced by some of those in positions of authority. It played out in Minneapolis in the most tragic and unconscionable way imaginable. It is being felt intensely across the United States day after day. We are reading and hearing the messages you, and so many citizens of this nation, are sharing and we understand you are struggling with anger, frustration and uncertainty.  As Team USA athletes, you represent a total diversity of race, gender, geography and perspective. You, and all you represent, continue to be a powerful force for good. In this moment, when you might otherwise be training and competing together, many of you are still isolated at home. Conversations had on the track or pool deck, or in social settings, aren’t happening as they would normally, and this only adds to the frustration. We’ve heard directly from you how important community and comradery are to Team USA athletes. That’s why, on Friday we will convene and support an athlete town hall where you can openly discuss how you have been impacted personally, listen to each other, learn from each other, and support each other. This conversation will be facilitated by athletes and available to athletes. Registration information will be sent soon. This discussion cannot resolve these issues but it is essential to progress. We can see that apathy and indifference are not solutions. The USOPC stands with those who demand equality and we want to work in pursuit of that goal. We must do everything in our power to ensure equality promised is equality achieved. We are committed to providing opportunities for our community to engage, to learn, and connect to resources for them to become advocates and take action. We’ve long celebrated the great power of sport as a way to unify nations and people in conflict. Today, and as we go forward, we believe unity among teammates, friends and colleagues can start to help heal our own. Sarah Hirshland CEO, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee |
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Post by Admin on Jun 4, 2020 7:22:50 GMT
Asher Hill watched on his TV as U.S. cities burned and on his phone as social media platforms lit up with sports teams, athletes and Canadian national sport organizations racing to condemn racism. He was outraged, devastated and had had enough. As he was logging off from it all Tuesday night, he was jarred by a post from Skate Canada. Hill, who is black, has been figure skating since he was three. He's competed in world championships and international events for Canada. Hill loves his sport and is now a licensed figure skating coach. But as a skater and coach he says he's constantly faced racism and has always been painfully aware of the colour of his skin. So when Skate Canada said in a post they were "committed to anti-racism and leading by example within the sporting community to bring change," Hill had to say something. In a series of tweets, he called out Skate Canada for ignoring his complaints of racism, homophobia, misogyny and abuse of skaters and coaches. "You never ever reached out to me for how you can make this sport safer for children, coaches, and volunteers of colour let alone black people," he wrote. "It was fear. Complete and utter fear," Hill said. "I felt gaslit into thinking my experience in skating wasn't real and was my own fault."  Filed complaint last year In an exclusive interview with CBC Sports, Hill says he filed an official misconduct complaint with Skate Canada last June, highlighting a number of instances spanning five years where he says a co-worker at a Brampton, Ont., figure skating club was abusive with racist, homophobic and misogynistic language. Skate Canada confirmed to CBC Sports they received a complaint of misconduct from Hill. "Upon review of the complaint, we were made aware that the skating club involved had retained a professional third-party investigator to manage the complaint," the organization wrote in an email. "Skate Canada reviewed the qualifications of the third-party investigator and accepted them to be an unbiased party to handle this complaint." The investigator "concluded that the allegations were unsubstantiated," which the Skate Canada says it accepted. Hill says Skate Canada failed to properly review pertinent information and testimony he provided and feels he was silenced. "I ended up being the person who was reprimanded," Hill said. "They wanted to sweep it under the rug. It's shocking they didn't talk to the people. When they came down with their decision, they threatened to suspend me or take away my license after I spoke out." |
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