Skating Around the Truth: Johnny Weir Up To His Same Old (Lying) Tricks
By Dustin Garrett Rhodes
Johnny Weir is at it again—lying, that is. In the latest issue of Elle magazine, Johnny Weir not only accuses Friends of Animals of being a “terrorist organization,” he claims we threatened him. We’ve been through all of this before, Johnny Weir. It wasn’t true then, and it certainly isn’t true now.
Showing concern for the dead arctic fox you wore at the 2010 U.S. National Championships does not a terrorist make. Friends of Animals was hoping you’d have a change of heart about the animals whose miserable lives and deaths you are complicit in. We never threatened you. Indeed, we simply asked you not to wear fur at the Olympics. That you lost is not our fault.
Wearing fur (and, yes, other animal skins) is deplorable. It’s vapid and vain. Choosing to wear something attached to so much pain and suffering is heartless. Misery will never be stylish. Your wanton love of fur only exposes a cold heart. Johnny Weir likes to say to each his own—but tell that to the beaten and bludgeoned, the anally electrocuted. No one chose to die for Johnny Weir’s sick obsession.
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24 Comments
On February 16, 2011, Marjorie Hass wrote:
It is so heartless to wear fur today when it is not necessary. We have faux fur and synthetic fabrics. Please, please stop, Johnny Weir.
On February 16, 2011, Wayne Glasman wrote:
Your pathological lies define the person you are and are second only to your lack of any conscience or sensitivity to our fellow creatures with whom we share this planet. I have contributed to the US Olympic Committee in the past however I am now notifying them that if they are funding the likes of persons such as yourself that any contributions I have made to them in the past shall now cease and will be larger donations I shall contribute to animal rights and environmental organizations in the future.
On February 16, 2011, Patricia Browne wrote:
Terrorists are the ones that torture and kill animals for vanity’s sake.
On February 16, 2011, Ellie Maldonado wrote:
I think Weir and Elle should be held accountable for creating and printing falsehoods!
On February 16, 2011, iris s carr wrote:
shame on weir
he brags about his heinous cruelty
he has no conscience
i am grateful that friends of animals publicizes weirs vicious nature
iris s carr
On February 16, 2011, GDiFonzo wrote:
What about suing Weir for defamation?
On February 17, 2011, Marcie J. Newman- Perskin wrote:
Anally electrocuted are you kidding me! As much as I hate this practice of wearing fur shouldn’t we be going after these Disgusting Human Animals that perform this practice! Who are they and if we don’t as yet know we should A.S.A.P.. Yes he is a Heartless fool but the manglers must be uncovered and brought to justice. I wish the same fate for them as well. Maybe we Humans should know the agony of what this Magnificent Animal has to endure. Totally Disgusted in Queens—————M.N.P
On February 17, 2011, rich donato wrote:
just as Sea Shepherd has stopped the japanese in their bloody tracks out on the high seas, FOA will continue to courageously shine the light of human compassion on sad, sad characters like this “weir”….
On February 17, 2011, Rose wrote:
Maybe he should try synthetics and perhaps he’ll post a win.
What a diva!
On February 17, 2011, Martha wrote:
Animals should be protected by us rational humans. They can not tell you to stop, and their love is unconditional and even when you abuse them they still misses you. A person who does not feel caring for a defendless animal could not really love anyone. They do not ask for anything, they stayed at your side when you are hungry or down, most family member do not even do that.
On February 17, 2011, Elizabeth Zazza wrote:
It is such a shame that he, who has this amazing opportunity to educate people worldwide about the horror of the fur industry simply by speaking out, has no compassion for the animals. What a waste. And now he tries to cover up his small mindedness by playing the victim. Elle and he are examples of the heartlessness that our culture allows toward precious animals.
On February 17, 2011, Shannon Martel wrote:
That man(he is a man isn’t he)is a monster. he is the terrorist. He is disgusting to look at.He looks like a terrorist also. God will punish him for what he is doing. Good that he didn’t win. Karma baby Karma!!!!!!
On February 17, 2011, Carol Reins wrote:
I’ve always believed that the truth will set you free…so to those who want to wear fur, they should watch the ‘Skin Trade’ or ‘Earthling’…then they can see the blood and pain on the coats, boots, purses and accessories they insist on wearing.
On February 17, 2011, Barbara Elwell wrote:
The wanton use of animal skin will come back to haunt the user; and will be repaid in kind.
On February 17, 2011, Dustin Rhodes, Friends of Animals wrote:
@Shannon Martel
We are here to defend the animals that Johnny Weir chooses to wear — not his sexual orientation, gender or what he looks like. To conflate hatred and ignorance with animal advocacy is disturbing all on its own.
I do not judge Johnny Weir for refusing to fit into anyone’s gender boxes; but I am plenty disturbed by anyone’s sartorial choices whenever fur is involved. Like I said, that’s deplorable.
Let’s keep it about the animals.
Kindly,
Dustin Rhodes
On February 17, 2011, Deborah wrote:
Johnny Weir is a human being and he has been persecuted for far too long. I understand all about the fur trade and the animal cruelty, but Johnny Weir didn’t kill these animals but others did. He should be able to make a choice to wear fur if you make the choice not to. It is a personal choice. You make your choice and he will make his. This is America for crying out loud. Why doesn’t anyone focus on the human beings being persecuted in Egypt and Isreal and all over the world and all the children in our country that are being snatched and killed. They are more important than an animal. Johnny is not a liar either…
On February 17, 2011, Lee Hall, Friends of Animals wrote:
Thank you, Dustin.
Johnny Weir’s talent is to be admired. And Johnny Weir’s identity is not ours to tear apart.
Nor should this individual be Johnny Weir’s (or anyone’s whom Weir’s money pays) to tear apart.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Arctic_Fox
On February 17, 2011, Dustin Rhodes, Friends of Animals wrote:
@Deborah
Yes, this is America. That’s why we have the right to speak out on behalf of animals. I’d argue that we have the obligation to do so since, unlike humans, animals cannot speak up for themselves. Like we said in the blog entry, animals do not choose to become coats, fur trim, skirts or any other piece of clothing; they do not choose to be enslaved and tortured by humans. Johnny Weir is a public figure who thinks it’s OK to promote the senseless deaths of animals (and his message, unfortunately reaches many people due to his celebrity status); his heartless stance should not go unchallenged.
Caring for animals has nothing to do with not caring about human oppression. Quite the opposite, the two go hand in hand. Perhaps your time is better spent human social justice issues if that’s what you feel strongly about; defending the indefensible is a waste of everyone’s time.
Dustin Rhodes
On February 17, 2011, GDiFonzo wrote:
I wasn’t planning to comment on this article again, but Deborah, Johnny is lying from what I can tell. I read the article. He said that the FBI had to provide him with protection because there was “a legitimate price put on my head by someone associated with Friends of Animals.” First of all, it is not the FBI’s function to provide a bodyguard service for civilians. I seriously doubt Weir’s claims of FBI involvement. Second, he has not come up with proof to verify his claims of…well, what ARE his claims? They’re very unclear. What is a “legitimate price on one’s head”? Putting a price on someone’s head is not legal and therefore not legitimate. He does a very nice job of using sloppy grammar in order to obfuscate. Johnny Weir needs to learn how to parse.
On February 17, 2011, Dawn wrote:
Anyone who wears fur is a terriorist!!
On February 17, 2011, dave wrote:
why give this clown any coverage at all, he dresses like a idiot when out in public,the only reason he is pushing FOA is to get free publicity, i don’t watch skating, but didn’t this clown lose, we should talk about the guy who won, and tell this clown,instead of dressing like a idiot and supporting the torture of defenseless animals,go learn how to skate. one thing i know about idiots, if you ignore them ,they fade away. a loser is a loser, just another whack job roaming the streets. don’t give him free publicity or he wont go away. no one cares who came in second.
On February 18, 2011, Donald Mulak wrote:
This Johnny Weir character is more than just perverse. He is indicative of his generation’s plight……a lost soul with absolutely no moral compass. Whether we choose to blame the individual, or society for creating these bastards, the fact remains the same, people like him are about as deep as a birdbath, and display no compunction whatsoever to do what is right and honorable. It makes you long for the days of old when someone like this, who blames everyone else for his shortcomings and inabilities, would have been fed to the lions.
On February 21, 2011, Ginger wrote:
@ Deborah,
To me, and millions of others, animals ARE more important because they CANNOT speak for themselves! They need decent human beings to speak up and save their lives!
YOU go and save Egypt, Isreal and children being snatched, SINCE YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY ANYONE ISN’T FOCUSING ON THEM! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HELP THEM?
“He didn’t kill the animal’s but others did.” Deborah, he is just as guilty and has the same blood on his hands by making a market for animal skins!…
On May 22, 2011, Jason wrote:
@Dave. You crack me up. You obviously don’t watch skating. Weir is a 3 time national champion. 2 time world bronze medalist, 2 time olympian and recognized by ISU as the 12th best skater in the world. What are you 12th best at compared in the world? And FoA, not everybody can save the world. Children of human trafficking can’t speak for themselves either. It’s not necessary to eat meat to remain alive or healthy. Are you all vegetarians? Cherry picking it looks like to me.
FoA comments:
True, Weir isn’t trying to save the world — just his career, now in an increasing downward spiral. But the world can’t be saved until everyone tries to save it. If the world is to continue in a meaningful way, it must be saved from the selfish and greedy — sadly, the two categories in which Weir has earned a lifetime gold medal.
Cherries are vegan and so are we.