Johnny Weir Gives Into Bullies and Changes His Fur Costume

by rabbifink on January 29, 2010 · 3 comments

Figure skater Johnny Weir set off animal activists with a small fox fur trim on his skating costume.

Most Olympic skaters wear pretty outrageous costumes for their routines during the Olympics and Weir is known for his “over-the-top” designs. His outfit was supposed to have a small trim of fox fur on the left shoulder. After pressure from PETA, Friends of Animals and hate mail as well as threats from less professional activists, Weir has acquiesced and is wearing a faux-fox fur in the place of the original, real fur trim.

What was interesting to me was the way Weir handled the fur wearing issue.

Weir responded that wearing fur is a personal choice and he understands the point of view of the activists, he just doesn’t agree. He feels that there are more important causes to be concerned with like homelessness and Haiti relief.

He closed his statement with a great line:

“I hope these activists can understand that my decision to change my costume is in no way a victory for them, but a draw,” Weir said in his statement. “I am not changing in order to appease them, but to protect my integrity and the integrity of the Olympic Games as well as my fellow competitors.

Two things struck me after reading his statement.

1) There are more important causes than animal rights. They involve people! How much money has been spent by PETA or other activists? Is it a good use of resources? I don’t have a definitive answer, but I am leaning in a certain direction.

2) Isn’t Weir saying that he is “giving in” to a bully? He doesn’t agree but he wants the activists off his back. Children deal with bullies all the time and the instructions for dealing with bullies varies. Some say that children should “stand up” to the bully and others say “give in” to the bully. Weir is “giving in”. Obviously, he doesn’t want to take a stand. But now, activists are emboldened to bully more people.

It reminds me of something I wrote about last year in a post called Political Discrimination. Prop 8 opponents were using Google Maps and public record to find people who supported Prop 8 and they demonstrated a their homes and places of work, oftentimes distrutpting business and causing damage.

Too many bullies make for a less peaceful world. Let’s try and use other means of communication and activism and avoid bullying to get our message out.

Related posts:

  1. Michigan Protects Bullies and Turns Religion Into a Weapon
  2. Sports, Politics, Phil Jackson and The Arizona Immigration Law et al
  3. How Did We Get Here? Explaining the Unabashed Support for Rubashkin

Tagged as: bullies, bully, Johnny Weir, Olympics, PETA, political activists, sports

  • Nikki Drisdale

    Peta had nothing to do with the campaign. Friends of Animals sent a press release to his costume designer. These facts are plastered all over the internet, so not sure how Peta got in this article.

    Also, am I the only one that is wondering where the police reports are? Death threats against a public figure are really serious — where are cops announcing on the news that an investigation has been established? No one is asking about this, why?

    • http://finkorswim.com rabbifink

      I can’s say anything other than what the AP article said. Apparently, in the past PETA has been in contact with Weir about his costumes, maybe not this particular costume, and they dealt with each other in a “professional manner” as per the AP article. Take it up with Ms. Armour, the AP Staff Writer who wrote the article.

      I added Friends of Animals to the post.

      You ask great questions. I too am curious what sort of threats he received.

  • http://conversationsinklal.blogspot.com Prof K

    And just who would know the difference if Weir was wearing real fur or fake fur? He can say whatever he wants but no one is going to be able to tell the difference. My father a”h was in the fur business and I grew up around them and wearing them. Way back when the imitations looked like what they were–fake. Today (as is the case with imitation diamonds as well) no Joe Shmo can tell the difference and even professionals can get fooled. There was a case here a while back where the animal rightists spray painted a coat that a woman was wearing that was supposedly mink. They paid through the nose for that attack–the coat was faux fur. Surely there must be something more urgent and necessary for society that these people could get behind?

    And yes, where is the police investigation about the threats?

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