When his talk at Barnard college was picketed by LGBT activists, Queer Nation, self-confessed Russophile Johnny Weir referred to them as a bunch of “idiots.” Weir then reflected on the incident in an op-ed appropriately titled “Foot in Mouth,” expressing regret for his “tongue getting away” from him. He concedes this isn’t the first time he’s put his mouth, but when it comes to the controversial and complicated issue of the Russian Olympics, Johnny’s been eating toe sandwiches for months.
Here, a collection of Johnny Weir’s most head-scratchingly questionable comments about Russia:
On Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law, Gay City News reports Weir “flippantly characterized” it as “no anal sex in front of libraries.”
“I’ve never had a bad experience in Russia…not gotten called a fag or beat up. I only see the rosy, golden side. I choose to see Russia in an arrogant, selfish way. I didn’t know what to think about the new law.” [Source]
“Like anyone, I’m afraid of being arrested. But also I’m not afraid of being arrested.” [Source]
“What my speech related to was the role of athletes at the upcoming Russian Olympics, and as if it isn’t obvious, this is a topic I know a lot about and am very passionate about.” [Source]
“I still don’t study Russian politics. I don’t pretend to get Russian politics.” [Source]
Hotflesh
It’s obvious that while Johnny Weir may be a great skater he is no brain trust like his Georgetown Law educated husband. His pride in his country and the fact he no longer has to live there or wonder if the laws enacted by the Russian Duma have clouded his judgement. Unless you know what the people go through each day just to survive,keep their families intact,their own dignity, and safety he needs to either be more educated on the subject or shut up.
KDub
His husband is Russian. Did you really think he was going to denounce his husband’s culture? I applaud Johnny for standing up to all the LGBT “activists” trying to bully him for his stance on this issue. It’s okay if we don’t all think with the same brain, guys!
Deepdow
@KDub:
They’re not bullying him. A bully is someone who tortures someone else, over time, for pleasure. This is criticism and it’s valid. Brain?
Get one first then report back.
bobbyjoe
@KDub: @KDub: We may not “all have to think with the same brain,” as you say, but I’d sure expect Weir to actually think…with a brain. Because when he says things like “I didn’t know what to think about the new law”– it implies either A) He’s not bright enough to understand a pretty straightforward (pun intended) law; B) he didn’t even care enough to find out what the law was all about before he started running around doing interviews where unless he is an idiot, he knew it would come up; or C) there’s actually the possibility Weir might decide he approves of the law (i.e., “I didn’t know what to think”).
Really, the only options such statements leave us with are either: A)Weir is a seriously stupid person; B) Weir is a really shallow and self-centered person; or C) Weir hears about a blatantly bigoted law and has to spend a lot of time thinking about whether he agrees with it… in which case, he’s a despicable person.
Cam
@KDub:
Nice try troll, Gee, lets run down a list of peeople who have accused the gay community of “Bullying” them.
1. The Mormons when the gay community spoke out against their funding and pushing of Prop 8 in California.
2. The folks at NOM when the community fought back against their attacks on the community both on air and legislatively.
3. Orson Scott Card when the community pointed out to Lions Gate films his actual anti-gay comments and his ties to funding anti-gay organizations.
4. The U.S. evangelicals funding and supporting the Ugandan bill that would allow gays to be legally killed in that country.
5. Johnny Weir when he has continually supported a country that has passed laws that directly attack the gay community, including law enforcement over there not investigating kidnappings and murders of gays.
Sorry but the right wings attempt to use the word “Bullying” to describe anybody that doesn’t agree with their bigotry is not only sad, it is obvious and just makes you look stupid.
2eo
This disgusting traitor deserves only execution in his motherland. I hope it’s slow and I hope it’s on camera.
Tookietookie123
He’s only in it for himself, as most athletes are. They’re only interested in the games, nothing else, so they would do anything to prevent a boycott against the games just to get a chance to play. While they do deserve to go to the games, I would never choose the games over equal rights, I would boycott it in a second. Not only is Weir blatantly putting LGBT rights in the backseat to the Games, but he’s publicly calling LGBT rights activists stupid. I wouldn’t expect much intelligence from an “athlete”, but this is borderline brain dead. Johnny Weir is as much an LGBT activist as a 90 year old woman from rural Alabama.
tada-no
I lost all respect I had for Weir. He is a self serving, selfish, arrogant, air-headed opportunist. At this point he is the Kremlin’s gay version of Uncle Tom. He will glorify Russia because he has a solid fan base there. He makes money off his “I speak Russian brand.” Russians, historically loved these purse fags who dress in caricatures. They accept gays like Weir who will put on his mama’s bra to entertain Putin in Bolshoi theater. But at the same time, the average, none famous gay man in Russia has to live in fear of violence and constant homophobia written in law.
Weir basically stopped hiding his love affair for Homophobia in Russia. He now says “I don’t care about the fate of regular LGBT teens and adults in Russia. I’m famous there; I make money there; they don’t beat me up when I wear high heals and Gaga outfits.”
NBC will hire this queer Uncle Tom to present Russia’s Olympics in good light. He will be paid a lot of money to tell the world that “it’s not that bad for gays in Russia; I know because I’m gay and I’m in Putin’s bath tub frequently.” Since he stopped being an Olympian all together, I hope in few years, he will fade away from limelight.
tada-no
@KDub: People need to stop saying his husband is “Russian.” His husband is first generation American. He was born in the U.S., raised in suburbs, went to American high schools and universities. His husband is as white middle class American as they come. He is as Russian as the Kardashians are Armenian or the Gottis Italian. Russian identity for him is just a trip to Moscow for a vacation.
Rockery
@tada-no: @tada-no:
Looks like someone is in the mood to do some factual ass kicking!
Side note I love the gif of him skating
MK Ultra
A couple things. First, MSNBC is the most homophobic mainstream news channel in America. I can’t believe they’re colluding with a foreign government to completely downplay/euphamize/erase the torture, murder, and rape of LGBT in Russia. Now they’ve got two token fags to give a glitterring gay stamp of approval on Russia; Thomas Roberts gave the impression that the worst thing gay Russians face is losing their job, just before commending Russia for how great they are. Then Ice Queer made his fabulous statement that only gays who insist on having anal sex in front of children are subject to the law. The blood of LGBT Russians is on these two kapos’ hands. Just complete, utter nasty pigs.
Pistolo
@Tookietookie123: Exactly. You nailed it. A lot of these athletes have been indulged and invested in from day 1 by everyone around them. They become incredibly single-minded and just as self-important as any actor or model except maybe even worse because at least actors and models are somewhat judged for their personality and intellect. But if you’re an athlete, you can be a raving moron, a non-stop locomotive of stupidity and so long as you can pull off a few physical feats people will treat you like a hero, some kind of ideal we should look up to.
All I gained from Weir’s article was that he was going to continue to be stupid and that we should all tolerate it, that somehow being an activist or impassioned about civil rights is a trait and not an obligation, and that he’s sorta sorry.
Please, Johnny, join Tonya Harding in figure skater obscurity.
AuntieChrist
The little fame whore played the gay card when it suited him to do so…The only big fight I had with my husband this year was over that fair weather…um…queen…Queer Nation called him out and the little bitch said they were idiots…So now this vain, vacuous, vapid little queer loves all things Russian…This not about anything but money…For her and Russia and all the sponsors of the Olympics…Bitch ain’t no Jesse Owens…Saying she could get arrested just for going there…Lies… My telly will be off that day and I boycott all products and sponsors of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Jesse Owens RULES…All others can suck it.
Kieran
Before he is Blacklisted, Johnny Weir should be summoned before the LGBT Un-Gay activities committee to answer questions. First question: Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist party?
Dawson
Johnny loves the limelight and has shown a history of making an ass of himself at all cost to get attention. Look at the last Olympics. A spoil little boy like so many figure skaters. But unfortuately he will be the poster boy for all things gay because he has made a point to be in the press and this means ratings for NBC. NBC doesn’t care how divided the LGBT community is about him. On the other hand as much as I can’t stand him and his pro-russia rants for many, many years he does give a skaters insight when he does his commentary. I actually found his opinion refreshing as he appears honest in his judgement of all other skaters who’s name are not Evan. But do I want to have to see him dress in his fur coat and act like he is the voice of reason on anything else? Hell no. He has cause too much harm to the community and doesn’t understand the damage he has already cause. Go away Johnny boy. You are way to immature for the general public.
AuntieChrist
GREAT…Johnny becomes the poster boy for all things queer on NBC… I have to swallow the vomit in my throat.
KittyLitter
He disgusts me.
Him- then elton john. GROSS.
Ron Jackson
Johnny can skate on my pond anytime.
AuntieChrist
@KittyLitter: Don’t get me started on Dame Elton…Every time I see her…I can only think of cheese…An English cheese called…Dovedale cheese… produced across the pond….A full-fat semi-soft blue-veined cheese.
JimBHinkson
my classmate’s sister-in-law makes $77/hr on the laptop. She has been out of work for 5 months but last month her check was $16180 just working on the laptop for a few hours. find out here now…… http://www.tec202.com
AuntieChrist
I like Cheddar and Jack…Okay, other stuff..Don’t make me go there…Too many to name.
KDub
Big thanks to Deepdow, bobbyjoe and Cam for showing how gays just love to gang up and personally attack someone for expressing a different opinion.
@Deepdow: Torture and bullying are two different things, hun. Go get a dictionary and then report back.
Fitz
This quisling speaks for no one. And stop calling it a “Great Athlete”. It was a barely-there Bronze winner once. It wasn’t hired to do the lucrative showcase dancing shows both because the athletic skills aren’t on the same level, and a majority of people (even skating people, who are close knit)see it for what it is.
kevininbuffalo
Weir’s love of all things Russian started long before he met his American (of Russian heritage) husband. It’s been a weird little obsession of his for years. It’s really all a part of his attention whoring. He needs to be different so that he will be noticed. Just like Dame Elton.
I was a fan of Weird’s, er Weir, but not anymore and I’m boycotting Sochi.
Screw ’em!
Cam
@KDub: said…
“Big thanks to Deepdow, bobbyjoe and Cam for showing how gays just love to gang up and personally attack someone for expressing a different opinion.
_______________________
Oh, I see, we’re back to the right wingers claiming that being a bigot or supporting anti-gay bigotry and attacks is merely an “Opinion”
It’s funny, I would have thought you wingers would have stopped using that argument when it failed so spectacularly for you in the last few court cases.
You will also notice that KDUB never posted what exactly we said that was supposedly an “Attack”. He didn’t want to because posting it would again show what a liar and deffender of anti-gay bigots he is.
Here is what I posted that he claimed was a bullying attack against Weir.
“”KDUB, Nice try troll, Gee, lets run down a list of peeople who have accused the gay community of “Bullying” them.
1. The Mormons when the gay community spoke out against their funding and pushing of Prop 8 in California.
2. The folks at NOM when the community fought back against their attacks on the community both on air and legislatively.
3. Orson Scott Card when the community pointed out to Lions Gate films his actual anti-gay comments and his ties to funding anti-gay organizations.
4. The U.S. evangelicals funding and supporting the Ugandan bill that would allow gays to be legally killed in that country.
5. Johnny Weir when he has continually supported a country that has passed laws that directly attack the gay community, including law enforcement over there not investigating kidnappings and murders of gays.
Sorry but the right wings attempt to use the word “Bullying” to describe anybody that doesn’t agree with their bigotry is not only sad, it is obvious and just makes you look stupid.””
—-
So I pointed out Weir’s support of Russia and never attacked him personally, but KDUB stated that I did.
His right wing, anti-gay agenda is obvious.
drivendervish
Hotflesh starts off this comment string by insinuating that Johnny is from Russia. He’s not, he was born in Pennsylvania and is loved in Russia precisely because he’s American and better yet, Extremely Flamboyant.
robho3
Why does anyone care what this guy has to say. He’s a reality TV star and his 15 minutes of fame were up a couple of years back. I wish he would just skate and shut the fuck up!
robirob
Each individual has the power and right to his own opinon and the right to voice it. And each individual has the power and right to value or dismiss someone else’s opinon based on his or her own values.
It’s easy for me to dismiss his opinion since I don’t care for him and his fur wearing antics.