Johnny Weir Fights Back Against Fashion Shaming

It started with the now legendary swan costume he wore at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy, and a full decade later Johnny Weir is still being ridiculed for his fashion sense — but he’s finally had enough.

The 32-year-old figure skater, who’s been covering the Games in Rio for NBC, took to Instagram to take issue with the bullying he’s been enduring for his flashy fashion choices. In a photo posted to his account, the openly gay skater (times four) proudly dons a coat covered in hot-pink feathers and a pair of high-heeled booties. An abusive comment from a stranger named Gary on social media is emblazoned across the image in a big black font.

Weir called out the “jealousy and hatred” coming from his own LGBT community, defending his colorful style as “the clothes I like and the clothes that entertain, which is my job.” He then said, “I work on television, fly around the world all year to different events. What do you do Gary?”

And he’s right — about his fashion sense being his job. According to People, Weir was asked to reunite with his onscreen counterpart, fellow Olympic skater Tara Lipinski, as “culture correspondents,” covering fashion, food, and other lifestyle aspects of Rio and the Olympic Village. No doubt this was due to the fan love (and high ratings) the fashionable friends received when they were figure-skating commentators at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 — which led to other high-profile appearances as a pair.

Fans came out in overwhelming support. “Either we accept each other, or we’re no better than the homophobes and haters,” wrote Instagrammer @johninhollywood, acknowledging that the tearing down often comes from within. “You are a beautiful and inspiring person. No ‘shame’ at all ‘on you’. Shame on Gary for being such an ugly and hurtful person. I don’t understand people who live in such hatred and fear,” wrote an encouraging @cynthiameadors. “In my community there are many who are inspired and find strength in what you do. To us, you’re a hero for letting yourself shine,” @rikkitracy said in solidarity.

Outspoken already, Weir became a prominent figure in the gay rights movement during his time as a commentator in the Sochi Olympics. Initially, he came under fire for not being vocal enough in his support for his community, according to the Advocate, and even referred to a group of LGBT advocates protesting him at the Games as “idiots” during a speech at Barnard College (he later apologized).

The controversy culminated in a 2014 documentary called To Russia With Love, which outlined a law in Russia that bans “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors,” and featured Weir and other prominent LGBT activists and athletes talking about the pressures they were under to “risk their own safety by speaking out against Russia’s anti-gay laws,” according to the movie’s promotional site.

Weir’s outfits during his Rio exploits — and the threads that likely offended Gary — have included a navy blue shorts romper with green platform booties, a sheer black top with matching shorts and Stella McCartney shoes, and a patterned, kimono-like jacket with fringed sash and white skinny jeans. And the infamous pink jacket, of course.

The popular sports site SB Nation has called Weir “a national treasure bringing style and flare to Rio” and publishes an “outfit tracker” to chronicle Weir’s looks. A columnist for the Huffington Post wrote, “If there were a gold medal for Olympic fashion, Johnny Weir would be taking it home from Rio.” And this is important info: Weir packed nine suitcases for his two-week stay in Rio.

After his outspoken post, the stylish skater went right back to unapologetically being himself on social media, at the Olympics, and on television.

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