FROM PARIS WITH YAGG

This news comes on the heels of a string of controversies surrounding Weir during the recent Vancouver Games.

Apparently Stars on Ice sponsors Smuckers and IMG Entertainment found Weir to be too effeminate to be in their show, a US national figure-skating tour, so the tour had him banned under the family argument, according to Queerty, which writes that a source from the Tour leaked the information to GLAAD. Jennifer Cosgrove, a spokeswoman for Stars on Ice, vehemently denied the rumor:

"We are disappointed that there is untrue and inaccurate information being disseminated. Please be assured that the 'gender identity and sexual orientation' of cast members has never been a consideration in the selection of tour performers."

GLAAD had this to say: "To say that Johnny Weir is not family-friendly is clearly a jab at his supposed sexual orientation. Weir is very involved in his family's life. He helped his brother go to college and supports his family financially, since his father's handicap prohibits him from working."

Figure skater Johnny Weir, the target of homophobic remarks from two Canadian sportscasters last week, launched a response to the comments last week (video below). A substantial strategic move which allowed him to end a controversy on his terms, which in turn boosted the viewership of the reality tv show 'Be Good Johnny Weir' on the Sundance Channel.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6-MAmhGKsU&feature=player_embedded

Weir said that he was pissed because the sportscasters weren't critiquing his skating but made a personal attack. He stated that the purpose of the press conference was to ensure that adolescents don't have the same issues, and reiterated that he hopes kids can grow up the way he did, to have the freedom to be themselves.