Johnny Weir: Straight Men Would Rather See Male Spandex Asses Getting Spanked Than Watch One Figure Skate
In an interview with HBO Sports, Johnny Weir cracks some sarcasm at straight men who won't watch figure skating because it's too gay.
Says Weir: "I am an effeminate person. I like sparkly things. I like the theatre of figure skating. But in no way does that make me less macho than someone in a muscle shirt and tattoos with grease stains or whatever. I know for the men's population of the United States, figure skating is a gay sport — and that's a misconception. There are so many straight athletes in figure skating. But I think it's the music and costumes that turn most men off, cause they want to see spandex men hitting each other's ass and throwing a ball. It's very different."
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted Feb. 9,2010 at 9:47 AM EST by Andy Towle in Figure Skating, Johnny Weir, News, Sports | Permalink
HAH!
Love him!
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Feb 9, 2010 9:58:29 AM
Haha. :) Love it! He is very self-assured and matter of fact about what he's saying, and that little dig at the end is hilarious. It's also how many men communicate. Thank you, Johnny!
Posted by: C | Feb 9, 2010 9:58:48 AM
What a narrowed minded idiot...
Posted by: NewEng | Feb 9, 2010 10:06:59 AM
Clearly someone needs a dictionary for Christmas.
Johnny will never be mistaken for "macho". And it's not the sport he does, but the attitude. Acting like a diva is what makes us look at you the way we do.
But as usual, a guy who won't talk about his sexuality will be lauded by gay men everywhere for taking cheap shots at other sports.
The more I hear from him, the less I like him.
Posted by: DR | Feb 9, 2010 10:14:43 AM
Johnny's lack of respect for others and his "diva" behavior is indeed what is so
odious to gay and straight people alike.
His lack of sensitivity and sense of entitlement to act however he wishes, wherever and whenever he wishes is evident of immaturity and lack of respect for himself. He is therefore unable to respect other people.
Posted by: NIck | Feb 9, 2010 10:26:19 AM
I absolutely adore Johnny Weir...love him love him hove him.
Posted by: John | Feb 9, 2010 10:53:19 AM
JOHNNY YOU ALWAYS MAKE ME SMILE! You're terrific.
Posted by: Ben | Feb 9, 2010 10:54:45 AM
Uh. If you were following along, the interviewer asked about the conception that straight men seem to have about figure skating, not what their perception is of him. He doesn't deny that he's gay. He may not talk about it much, but he certainly doesn't hide it, and that's his prerogative.
He may be arrogant, but that's a trend with top athletes, not just Weir.
Posted by: Sassifras | Feb 9, 2010 10:57:40 AM
You can like him or you can dislike him, but you could never call him dull.
Posted by: MikeMick | Feb 9, 2010 11:02:17 AM
No Sweetie,
Prancing around like you do does make you less macho, and that's OK, there's nothing wrong with that but at least admit it.
You're a girl-boy, plain and simple.
Posted by: Tom | Feb 9, 2010 11:21:30 AM
I would actually say that a male figure skater is less sterotypically "gay" than the steroidal, muscle-shirted Chelsea boy that Weir references. And for whom he CLEARLY has a thing.
Posted by: Scott | Feb 9, 2010 11:26:02 AM
No, he's a man, plain and simple, and the level at which he has excelled at his physically-demanding sport proves that. Some of the most effeminate men are more Men than the most masculine, and that's a fact.
Posted by: Matt | Feb 9, 2010 11:28:47 AM
He's a young OUT gay male doing his thing and representing the United States at the Olympics; I don't get the hate. Some of the criticisms here are just laughable and sad.
Posted by: Brian in Texas | Feb 9, 2010 11:47:18 AM
And you're redundant, Dakota. I know which I'd rather be.
Johnny Weir is my hero. Also, he's hot.
Posted by: elcamino | Feb 9, 2010 11:48:40 AM
uh, whatever dakota...
but next time learn the difference between "your" and "you're" before making declarations like that.
Posted by: alguien | Feb 9, 2010 11:49:02 AM
I think people that use the word "fags" are douche fags.
Posted by: Snookyy3k | Feb 9, 2010 11:54:04 AM
I see Dakota has a friend. Both are very orginal in their thoughts.
Bravo to you both. Now go along now and jerk each other off to gay porn. We know you wanna.
Posted by: Tralfaz | Feb 9, 2010 11:57:00 AM
what is the problem here...he hit the nail on the head..."most straight guys" are comfortable seeing guys roughed up in sports like football and wrestling...and cringe over guys in tights and feathers.
But, who really is the better athlete.
And does this guy really have to come out formally...I mean, have the met the man?
Posted by: Paul | Feb 9, 2010 12:02:33 PM
Johnny usually annoys me to no end purely b/c his skating has not lived up to his potential on the international stage. I could care less about his personal life, except when it's clear he's letting it interfere with his skating. Still he really is not unique as far as out male skaters are concerned. Toller Cranston created the mold that Johnny is currently occupying almost 40 years ago.
Still Johnny is more or less correct in what he is saying in this clip. Almost all the men on the US team in all disciplines are straight. The vast majority of skaters from other countries are as well. American perception of gender roles really does skew the image of skating and frequently hurts efforts to attract talented youngsters, especially in pairs and ice dance.
Posted by: James C. | Feb 9, 2010 12:28:49 PM
Love him or hate him, he's 100% right.
Posted by: The Milkman | Feb 9, 2010 12:29:45 PM
James C.:
I am laboring under the assumption that Ben Agosto is willfully ambiguous with his sexuality, as it's pretty common knowledge that Tanith Belbin is dating Evan Lysacek and we hear nothing about who, if anyone, Ben is dating...
Posted by: Jerry | Feb 9, 2010 12:35:13 PM
you know, I don't think it's the ass slapping that the straight men like. Most of those spandex wearing, ass slapping sports are objectively scored. Some of the penalties are subjective, but most of the plays are scored objectively.
I'm hardly straight, but I can't stand figure skating because it's so subjective. The skaters and the judges know each other and it seems like the relationships that they have have more to do with the scoring than the actual performances. There's no denying that skaters are incredible athletes, but their sport sucks.
I'm pretty sure Johnny's been coy about his sexuality. I don't recall that he's ever actually said he was gay. You're either out or you're invisible.
Posted by: pParkerT | Feb 9, 2010 12:42:40 PM
I was kinda ok with Weir when he said "I am effeminate" blah blah, but then goes on to say "I'm not less macho"....um, if you are effeminate then by definition, then you are less macho. sorry. If he had said, no "less competitive, talented, hard working etc" then ok, but you ARE less macho, by your own admission.
I guess even so-called proud fems aren't so proud when you think about it.
Posted by: Marty | Feb 9, 2010 1:05:22 PM
Being out doesn't mean you have to trash straights all the time....obviously ...
Posted by: alan brickman | Feb 9, 2010 1:11:46 PM
Jerry:
Ben Agosto lives with his girlfriend. They've been together at least 5 years. It is mentioned from time to time in profiles on him. He's just not PR hog like Tanith.
BTW,Tanith and Evan broke up early last year. He's rumored to be dating Nastia Liukin at the moment. They've made a couple of red carpet appearences together and she was at Nationals. She's become quite the skating groupie since Beijing.
Tanith is rumored to be dating or have just broken up with Charlie White, one of her chief rivals. Tweets from her pretty much reveal all you need to know.
BTW both male pairs skaters are straight (one married, one dating one of his US competitors).
So that leaves the third male ice dancer Evan Bates (straight) along with Weir and Jeremy Abbott who never talks about his personal life...
Posted by: James C. | Feb 9, 2010 2:07:42 PM