Openly gay Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon has lashed out at fellow skater Alexei Yagudin of Russia. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Yagudin referred to transgender people as “Earth’s mistake” asking, “When will you die?”
Yagudin made the comments after Rippon announced he had donated to The Okra Project, a charity aimed at helping underprivileged black, transgender people. In response, Rippon decided to donate even more to the organization–but in Yagudin’s name.
“When Olympic gold, Alexei Yagudin, found out I donated to a charity that helps black trans people he said that he COULDNT WAIT for people like me to die,” said on Twitter. “Because of that I feel INSPIRED to donate another $1000 to the @TheOkraProject but this time, in his name.”
Related: WATCH: The beautiful way Adam Rippon marked his 30th birthday
“There are so many homophobic, transphobic, and racist people in sports and it will not be tolerated,” Rippon added in another tweet. “It doesn’t matter how well respected they might be in their own sport. If they are hateful, they suck. He apologized but I don’t accept it. He can take his apology, homophobia, transphobia, racist comments, and his Olympic gold medal and shove them up his ass.”
Rippon, a man known for his vocal support of queer causes, and for his unapologetically flamboyant persona on the ice, finally added “LGTBQ+ people, you rock and are awesome just the way you are. YOU MATTER. BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER, BLACK LIVES MATTER.”
Mister P
Adam is a hero!
Lightbulb
You are right Adam is a hero! However, where A is from they have no rights or really free speech? They are murdered for being LGBT etc. So maybe just maybe he was doing this or someone else dos at he bequest of a dictator or to deflect?
\Can you say Putin? Russia?
Smith David
YAAASSSSS….get’em Adam. Adam Rippon, a heart beat in our community that keeps us all going during these challenging times. I thank you sir.
Cam
And let me guess, the skating associations will do nothing to the bigot.
dhmonarch89
he retired back in 2002
WSnyder
We could use more people like Adam on this planet.
zealot
Not sure where Yagudin lives these days but it wouldn’t shock me to learn he’s up for a job in the Russian Skating Federation. And as always, Adam, you Ripp-on! To this day when I need a lift, I watch Adam’s short program from his last appearance at the U.S. Nationals to perk up my day. That death drop at the end….Never Fails!
CityguyUSA
I think as more and more people take up the fight this is going to end in a short time. You have to remember that these countries politicians are largely behind this type of hate and it’s run it’s term as they have and were going to see Trump expelled out of office along with several other haters, assuming that his competition doesn’t do something dire, there’s still plenty of time, and that’s going to send a signal that the days of acceptable hatred are coming to and end.
Kangol2
I’m glad Adam Rippon spoke up. Maybe J. K. Rowling and other transphobes will pay attention to what he said.