Johnny Weir Is Not 'Family Friendly' Enough For Stars On Ice

[Me.]

Dylan pointed out yesterday that aside from being a champion, Weir is putting his younger brother through college and supporting his family financially as his father cannot. As Dylan said, I guess that’s not family friendly enough.

“Johnny Weir represented the United States in the Vancouver Olympics last month, but that accomplishment is evidently not enough to earn him a spot on the Stars on Ice Tour. Nobody doubts the American figure skater's skill: in addition to competing at the Torino Olympics in 2006, he finished sixth at the 2010 Winter Olympics and is a three-time national champion.

Rather, it seems Weir may have been left off the team because he is "not family friendly." As GLAAD notes, such a claim "would be a clear jab at his perceived sexual orientation." The blog post continues:

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 said that he will skip the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Torino to "rework his technique," but a source tells GLAAD that Stars on Ice "refused to allow" him to participate in its tour.”…xont…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/12/johnny-weir-stars-on-ice_n_496260.html

[nightrain]

1. "Not family friendly" is homophobic code.

[rfranklin]

2. DUPE

Posted a few times already.

[11 Bravo]

3. Then Stars on Ice isn't human decency friendly enough to get one nickel of my money.

Fuck 'em.

[peace13]

4. Time for a boycott of 'Stars on Ice'.

I admire Weir. It is too bad that so many folks are so closed minded.

[lonestarnot]

5. K & R! Go Johnny Go!

[Karia]

6. He is an awesome skater!

IMHO Johnny Weir is a great role model for kids too.

[Lerkfish]

7. I find that odd since it seems many of the other stars on ice have varying orientations

is he being punished for being too flamboyant (in their opinion)?

I don't think the audiences will care.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Me.]

9. And What Name Should We Apply To You?

[Me.]

10. Thank You Mod For A Fast Send-Off

[Berry Cool]

11. Mind you, I'm all for Johnny, and if this is true, it's highly ridiculous and unfair, but...

...is the source reliable?

Edited to add: In case anyone's wondering, here's why I ask:

1. Years ago, when Brian Orser was still on the Canadian part of the Stars on Ice tour, he was outed in a palimony suit that got some pretty big press across Canada. But Stars on Ice didn't fire Orser for not being "family friendly."

Yeah, you say, but Orser is not flamboyant, right? He doesn't wear pink and go around in a corset and high heels. But...

2. Years ago, there was a Champions on Ice tour. Not the same thing as Stars on Ice, but another skating tour. They had Rudy Galindo in their cast (he became an overnight star for a while when he became a surprise national champion), and he was not only openly gay but HIV-positive to boot. He was also as "flamboyant" as they come. He used to wear a sailor suit and skate to "In the Navy," for heavens' sake. The crowds ate it up. If anything, they seemed to find it refreshing that he was "being himself."

So...why would Stars on Ice not want Johnny Weir? Why would they not see that he has at least as much, if not more, appeal than Rudy Galindo? I mean, Rudy didn't even have his own TV show. If there's one thing that seems obvious, it's that there's a market for Johnny out there. And most businesses make decisions based on marketability.

I could see the Ice Capades rejecting Johnny...but the Ice Capades doesn't even exist anymore. What I can't figure is why a show like Stars on Ice, that aims itself more at adults than at kids, would reject him.

[Me.]

12. There Are Lots Of Sources

Phila. Enquirer, Access Hollywood who did an interview with him, etc. I first heard about it on the Ratigan show. Perhaps his profile has been too high for them, I can't really say, though the reason given is absolute nonsense..