Stars on Ice Denies Weir's Claims

So write to Smucker's and tell them you are displeased with their sponsorship of an organization that discriminates against someone because of their perceived sexual orientation: http://www.smuckers.com/contact/

Karen, I totally agree with your comments. Also I always assumed that Scott Hamiliton was Gay!!!

The nearest Stars on Ice show will be on a Tuesday night in Cincinnati, which is about 3 to 4 hours from my home. I had started discussions with friends about attending, even though it would mean taking time off from work and staying in a motel overnight. I was hoping to see Johnny Weir. I couldn't understand why he was not included in the cast. Now that I know that Stars on Ice declined to include him and have learned things that I didn't previously know about Stars on Ice and Scott Hamilton, I will not be attending. I have a jar of Smuckers jelly in my refrigerator. That will be the last Smuckers product that I will ever buy. I have admired Scott Hamilton and his skating since his amateur days. I was not aware that he is a born again Christian. Frankly, it wouldn't matter if it didn't affect who he included in his ice shows. Now when I see him, I will think bigot. If he is not a bigot, then it's up to him to prove it.

Yes, Smuckers and Stars on Ice has the right to hire whoever they want. I have the right to my opinion and to make decisions on how I want to spend my money. As a huge figure skating fan for the past 40 years, it makes no sense that Stars on Ice has NEVER invited Johnny Weir to appear in their show. Their claims that Johnny's perceived sexual orientation and his femininity have nothing to do with their failure to invite him is simply not believable. Johnny is a 3 time US champion, the 2008 World bronze medalist, and a 2 time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist. Although he ended up in only 6th place in the Olympics, he skated two clean programs and many fans thought that he was underscored and should have been the bronze medalist. Interestingly, Rachael Flatt, who was also underscored and ended up in 6th place, was invited to be in Stars on Ice.

Joseph, you're free to dislike Weir, but saying he has little skill as a skater is an ignorant and uninformed opinion.

I'd also point out that Stars on Ice is free to invite only the performers they want, and they're really under no obligation to explain to whom they extend an invitation or don't. Personally, I don't find Weir to be all that great a skater--all flash and little real skill. I certainly wouldn't make a decision to go to Stars on Ice over their choice to not invite Weir to the tour; I might, however, be more likely to not go to a show if Weir were on the billing.

Sean, you're incorrect. The claims did NOT come from Weir. The story is incredibly convoluted, but the gist is this: GLAAD quoted "anonymous sources from Stars on Ice" that Weir wasn't invited for his not being "family friendly enough." THEN, AccessHollywood interviewed Weir about the story and Johnny "confirmed" the story. Then, GLAAD reported that confirmation. The whole problem with this is that it smells of typical Johnny-being-Johnny behavior--he wants to spark some type of controversy in which the little drama queen comes out on top (let's not forget his "I'm going to wear fur and feathers and I don't care what PETA might think" fiasco). If this story HAD been real, why didn't Weir break the story himself?

The 'claim' did not come from Weir as the title suggests. People who work for Stars on Ice were the ones who revealed why they banned Johnny. It's a well known fact despite their denials.

I doubt anybody believes Stars On Ice, after all there, is not one single official gay skater in their entire cast in either the USA or Canada. The owner, Scott Hamilton is a born against Christian, who speaks on Pat Robertsons 700 club. Smuckers is a major contributor to the Republican Party. If Stars On Ice has gay skaters, show me the proof... else live with the reputation. This is obviously, an equal time story, without any substance.