First it was the PETA freaks trying to strip the fabulous fur off his Olympic fashion. Now it appears that the world’s gayest touring company — Stars on Ice — has deemed Johnny Weir (are you ready for this?) too gay to skate.
I know. It’s like the Church of Scientology rejecting Amy Winehouse for being too crazy. But there you have it.
This past Thursday, GLAAD reported that the two-time Olympian was apparently “not family friendly” enough for co-sponsors Smucker’s and IMG Entertainment’s now über-masculine lineup. (Which, for the record, still consists of guys in leotards twirling and leaping about on the ice.)
You’ve got to love the euphemism: “not family friendly.” In other words, gay as a maypole. Gayer than Christmas.
In response to this heartless snub, Weir confessed to Access Hollywood on Friday morning:
I’ve never been invited to do ‘Stars 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 have to wonder what led Stars on Ice to come up with that lame excuse for their blatantly homophobic decision. Certainly it didn’t have anything to do with Weir’s relationship with his own family, as GLAAD reports on its website:
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.
Yeah, that guy has no clue about family values.
Oh wait, now I remember why Smucker’s might be a tad uncomfortable with Weir’s flouncing fabulosity. It probably has something to do with this little tidbit of information, courtesy of Binky and the Misfit Mimes:
Smucker’s founders were Mennonites, after all, and those values still permeate the company. And Stars on Ice producer Scott Hamilton is a member of the ultra-fundamentalist Church of Christ.
Outsports adds:
Though Hamilton was openly homophobic, the show [Stars on Ice] did have its gay faces in the earlier years — Rob McCall and Brian Orser. But the emphasis began to veer towards male skaters like Kurt Browning who were paragons of “masculine heterosexual skating style.” [Ed. Apparently not a contradiction in terms?] SOI’s turning point into deep figure-skating conservatism probably came in 2001, when Smucker’s became the show’s title sponsor. Though the Ohio-based food company hasn’t been screamingly high profile in politics, a glance at their political contribution record shows that they have contributed heavily to state and national Republican causes, including Mitt Romney and John McCain for President. Co-CEO Tim Smucker has served as a GOP delegate to the RNC.
Add to this the across-the-board push by U.S. and Canadian figure skating authorities to make the sport less, um, gay … and Weir’s ostracizing suddenly begins to make sense.
For their part, of course, Smucker’s is categorically denying that Weir’s (perceived) sexual orientation had anything to do with their decision to keep him off the ice.
Oh no. It’s not that he’s gay — it’s just, uh, um … that the show is … full! Yeah, that’s it! There just isn’t any room at all in the lineup for little Johnny.
Yes, yes, it’s true that Evan Lysacek will be missing quite a bit of the 2010 Stars on Ice tour in order to appear on Dancing With the Stars. And yes, we did just sign the Canadian bronze medal winner Joannie Rochette (who, by the way, also just happens to be the official spokesperson for WorldVision Canada, an Evangelical Christian organization). But still. There’s no room, I tell you!
It’s too bad, too. I’d venture to guess that Johnny’s considerable fanbase might have helped breathe a little life (and cash) into a show that’s been limping towards obsolescence for quite some time now. I mean, not that Smucker’s (or that gay-sport-loving homophobe Scott Hamilton) would take any of that dirty, homo money anyway. You’ve got to have principles, people!
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Scott Hamilton’s straight?
Wow great article! I was wondering at the hypocrisy of SOI for not allowing openly gay men to participate while welcoming all those closet cases.
Besides I love JW. He had my heart after telling off PeTA, but that part about putting his brother through college made me like him even more.
Talk about hating the sinner AND the sin. You’re getting it wrong Smuckers!
If Johnny Weir’s image isn’t commercial enough to make money from it, that’s his own fault.
Should families be forced to watch hard core leather festivals? Of course not.
In the last presidential election, every candidate and vice presidential candidate other than Hilary Clinton was against gay marriage.
I think the Gay Lobby has misread the pulse of America even worse than Obama has.
Chas Michael Michaels wasnt gay.
I’m a sex addict and I’m attracted to women
How has Scott Hamilton been homophobic? I tried Bing-ing it, but all I got were message boards saying “OMG! Scott Hamilton = epic fail! He’s such a ghey hater! Down with haterzzzzz!!!!111111!!elebenty!!” Has he had actually documented cases of homophobic statements and behavior? I’m asking this legitimately, because it seems to me that the word “homophobe” gets thrown around for everything from actual gay bashing to a straight person not saying “God Bless” when a gay person sneezes. Is it just because he belongs to the Church of Christ? (Last time I checked, being a member of a conservative Christian church does not automatically equal “homophobe.”)
He’s as queer as a football bat.
’cause, CMS. They all jus been haterz.
Oh Lord…it’s spreading beyond Chris Brown.
There’s a lot of former Olympians, and only so many spots on tours. Even if Weir has a lot of rabid fans, more people will pay to see skaters who actually medalled at the Games than someone who placed sixth. Also, I think Weir tends to downplay the sexuality question, no one actually believes he’s straight, but he isn’t going around handing out rainbow stickers at press conferences either. The sponsors and Hamilton may not be super liberal, but I think this is probably more a case of “we want people who have medalled recently and/or highly” rather than homophobia. The family friendly label probably means “will bring in lots of fans and no controversy”. (Maybe PETA threatened the tour.)
Interesting that a post purporting to be so open minded about gays is so full of offensive lines about homosexuality. I probably classify as one of those “crazy” Christians being derided, and I find the post offensive, not only to vast right wing conspirators and figure skaters, but to the homosexual community as well.
Also, good job on finding the most flamboyantly gay photo of him that I have seen so far. Seriously, it’s so flaming I think my laptop might overheat.
For the record, I do think it’s sad that they don’t want to include him. And I think it’s sad that his (perceived) sexuality is pretty much the reason behind it. But I don’t think that disapproving of homosexuality is the same as being a homophobe.
Now, the Westboro Baptist Church, on the other hand, is paying us a visit in a few days…THERE are some homophobes.
@ CMS — Actually, Hamilton admitted to his homophobia in his autobiography Landing It: My Life On and Off the Ice. Here is a quote from one review:
I think the “not family-friendly” thing probably comes from people not wanting to explain to their children why this guy’s dressed like a bride complete with bouquet. If someone is gay, it doesn’t necessarily call for a potentially awkward convo with the kids, but his outward behaviors are a little wacky.
I’m thinking of the South Park episode where Mr. Garrison tries to get fired for being gay.
It’s tolerance camp for all of you!
Any entertainment show has the right to decide what they present to the target audience. It doesn’t matter so much that he’s gay, I think it’s because he’s so effeminate that the target audience would be a bit put off. I’ll watch skating with my wife, but when the fellas get to foofy, I can only take so much before changing the channel.
Women who skate like women = sexy.
Men who skate like men = kinda neat to watch.
Men who skate like women = gross, because the movements would be sexy if a woman did them, but it’s a dude, so it’s unnatural and unappealing to watch.
Bottom line, Johnny: you skate well, but you turn off a portion of the audience. Seats need to be filled, and sponsors need to be satisfied. It comes down to taste, not orientation.
Pearce – let me know where and when, and I’ll show up with a case of Silly String.
Dave:
http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12113930
@AllyKat “The sponsors and Hamilton may not be super liberal, but I think this is probably more a case of “we want people who have medalled recently and/or highly” rather than homophobia.”
I’d be happy to accept this – if it weren’t for the fact that he’s been excluded every year, including when he was national champion / worlds bronze medallist. No-one else of his caliber has not even been asked – something’s fishy there.
Thanks, SJS…
While I think using such pejoratives as “f*ggot” and “fairy” to describe a homosexual (or to insinuate a straight person is somehow less “manly”) are indeed homophobic, I don’t necessarily think it’s homophobic for a heterosexual person to not want to be called homosexual. If gays are supposed to be all “I am who I am,” doesn’t the same go for straights? Would a homosexual want to be called hetero? We are what we are.
Does Hamilton continually work to rid himself of his homophobic feelings? I can hardly hold it against someone who says “look, I’m flawed. I know the way I think isn’t right, and I want to change. Can someone please educate me so I can change?” Hmm, I’ll have to look further into it. But the question remains: why do I care so much?
Didn’t Katarina Witt skate with this tour? How did the conservatives feel with her posing in Playboy and openly talking about having affairs with married men?
There was recently a special here in the United States on the history of the tour. I believe Katarina was not featured which I found odd.
Pearce – Westboro church is paying your area a visit? Why, some brave soldier died again defending their right to spew crap again? I hate it when freedom gets in the way of their freedom.
Calling all Patriot Guard riders!
I’d like to give Westboro Church a visit of my own…
Sarah I loved this blog. There is alot of truth to it. Religion is not an exuse to discriminate.
Was the term “not family-friendly” the reason they gave for not asking him, or did someone just assume that? If it did come straight (pardon the expression) from SOI, they should fire their spokesperson. They should have come up with something that isn’t sitting on such an obvious P.C. landmine. After Adam Lambert vs Chris Brown, I’d be very careful to cover my ass with both hands.
He’s probably more family friendly than a lot of the so-called “family entertainment” out there. Case in point, Miley Cyrus and just about any action cartoon aimed at boys. I’d rather my child see Weir flounce about in some silly costume than a 16 year old grind a pole or blood spurting from Spiderman. At least he can give some pointers on how to tell off idiots like PETA.
aaw – I really wish I could go so that I could interrogate them on the Scripture they use to back up their idiocy. I’m convinced most of them either haven’t READ more than the passages they quote or are just coming up with ridiculous excuses as to why some parts of the Bible “don’t count.” Ohhhhh, I wish I could do that. Bring it, crazy, hateful fanatics. C’mon.
They’re protesting because a high school here is performing the Laramie Project as their school play. O noes.
Great find, SJS! This is some class-A doubletalk. If they’re going to pick a lame-ass excuse for excluding JW, least they could do is pick a lame-ass excuse and stick to it consistently! Sheesh.
Through I have to admit, my first thought reading this was “Wait. There are straight male figure skaters??”
I don’t think filling seats is a concern. Johnny Weir is one of the few skaters currently working who most people have actually heard of. There may be other objections (fair or not), but revenue certainly isn’t one.
I have to say that I love Scott Hamilton. Only because I went to Bowling Green, where his parents taught and he trained at the ice rink. He also spoke at my graduation. I like him.
However, let the flamer skate for crying out loud. He did not do that good at the Olympics but who cares? He is entertainment.