Right now I think it's pretty safe to say I feel very lucky to be living in Vancouver...the city of the Olympics. The festive spirit was evident downtown last night as my friends and I watched the Opening Ceremonies on the big screen and saw Wayne Gretzky light the Olympic torch.
The city is full of tourists and athletes and the party atmosphere is as lively as ever, but there was initial controversy following the 21-year-old Georgian luge rider's death in training yesterday, and now controversy over 'threats' US ice skater Johnny Weir has received from animal rights activists after he added white fox fur to his Olympic costume.
Although I think it's appalling and absolutely disgusting that he would use fur for a figure skating costume, but it also is not appropriate to respond to these situations with death threats or violence. So let's leave the assaults out of it and just encourage athletes to be kinder in their practices, no?
Proving you don't have to be cruel to be kind,
GiGi
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It's his costume designer who should take responsibility too - I doubt using real fur was Johnny's idea. (Although obviously he's responsible for having approved it).
ReplyDeleteI see your point, but it's his name and his reputation attached to what he does and what he wears - if he doesn't want to be connected with promoting fur he can just choose not to wear it (or do go with a faux option). But yes, I don't know who the costume designer was but they should probably share the blame, tis true. The death threats are a bit excessive, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd as a follow-up...perhaps Johnny had more input into his costume than we thought? Towelroad is reporting that he's interested in leaving figure skating to attend FIT and pursue a career in fashion. Start hiding the foxes now...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.towleroad.com/2010/02/johnny-weir-to-give-up-skating-pursue-future-in-fashion.html