Johnny on the ice during warmup in his Bosco "Russia" vest, of course. I love that when the GP announcements came out this past Monday, Johnny texted Phil Hersh of the Chicago Tribune: "Can't wait to be back in the game, and it all starts in Mother Russia." Photo © David Ingogly. Please click twice for larger view, or click here for the amazingly detailed full-size image. So I was dithering over whether to post today, since it's a holiday weekend in the US and I wasn't sure if there'd be much readership with Memorial Day coming up, so I asked on Twitter if anybody would be around to enjoy some picspam. And my favorite among the "YES!!" replies I received was this from Jenn Kittler: "Monday's the holiday weekend. Tomorrow's just another day in need of Johnny pics. ... Tbh every day's just another day in need of Johnny pics." ITA. So here you go. But before we get to the pics (yes, I see your eyes sliding on down the page there...), two quick happy announcements: (1) Show Johnny Weir the Love has announced the birthday project for this year! And it's really, really lovely. As always, just $5 gets your name on the card. Deadline is Friday, June 22, to send in your contribution for this very special gift! Please visit the SJWTL Facebook page for details. (2) In response to popular request, yes!! We are sending Tara and Josh a wedding gift! I'll be coordinating that, so if you would like to contribute, please PayPal me at [email protected]. As with the birthday gift, just $5 gets your name on the card. Deadline for this project is Monday, June 11. If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected], or send me a message on Facebook! And now, the picspam: The following photos were all taken during just the first eight minutes of Johnny's final warmup before showtime at Holiday Dreams on Ice (which means we still have a zillion more photos from the remaining 22 minutes...). During rehearsals on Thursday, he was in a happy and bouncy mood; on Friday, he seemed much quieter, a bit tired, and very intense. Earlier in the day he practiced the group numbers as well as his own programs during dress rehearsal; now, with just 45 minutes before the show, came the final run-through. The lighting was erratic during the warmup, since the lighting guys were working out the final kinks for the show (they did a fantastic job, BTW), so the color photos from this session are very inconsistent. But the black-and-white versions are amazing. To me, their starkness best conveys Johnny's dedication, laser-like inner focus, and the solitary--almost lonely--pursuit of his passion as he prepares to give his final performances of 2011. It's supposed to be 90 degrees in Chicago this weekend. But I'll be revisiting this photo series off and on, remembering the freezing cold of the ice rink--you can see how bundled up Johnny is as he begins his warmup, although he keeps shedding layers as he goes (yes, we have that picspam to look forward to)--how beautiful his skating is even in a warmup, and how much I can't wait to see him back on the ice for the Grand Prix series... As always, please click any photo twice for larger view. Some photos also are available in super hi-res. The essence of poetry is will and passion. —William Hazlitt Prior to Johnny's arrival, UPenn Class of '23 Arena staff fill in divots left in the ice from previous practices. The Zamboni will smooth the ice one more time before the show starts, but for now, the workers do a quick patch job. In the background are some of the young skaters, who are gathered here because they know that Johnny will be arriving any minute now... The ice, both inviting and unforgiving, awaits him. And so do we... ...and then we happen to glance over and he's already here! He skates past before Davey can focus his camera as precisely as he'd like. He doesn't like the result--but I do. Johnny's been on the ice for about two minutes when his attention is caught by a visitor... Full-size image here. ...whom he is very happy to see. After a quick 60-second break to chat with some fans... ...he's back on the ice. Full-size image here. The young skaters are positioned at every available doorway to get a peek at him. Full-size image here. Full-size image here. Which I love because you can really see the ice spray. Full-size image here. Full-size image here. Full-size image here. Please, please click this one to see the details. Absolutely gorgeous. Full-size image here. And one more... All photos © David Ingogly. Phoenix... Tuesday's post regarding the announcement of Johnny's two Grand Prix assignments: Quiet thoughts on the leap of faith that is each jump, each moment, and especially this moment— plus two exclusive new photos. HE REALLY, REALLY IS!! Landing quads and kicking ass at a Grand Prix event near you! Read his comeback statement on his website! New on Johnny's website!! Johnny returns to perform again in Sun Valley this summer! He'll be the headliner at the Saturday, August 4, ice show, and tickets are on sale now!! Don't miss it! Please click to vote for Johnny once a day as "Best Sportsman"! Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka to tell us he wants us to! (Note: With his "58.132" rating, he is currently in 1st place in both Figure Skating AND across all sports!) New on Johnny's website!! In early June he'll be heading to China for Artistry on Ice: Red Temptation. Weibo, here we come!! It's not too late! Subscribe now and get the entire Johnny Weir perspective, including his never-before-heard free skate commentary available exclusively on icenetwork.com! Q and A! Go read it now! Johnny's Glitter and Ice collection with MAC is pretty much sold out, but I'm leaving this video on here for a little while longer because I love it so much. Yes! Johnny's dresses are now available for purchase only on eDressMe.com! At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD! Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website! Johnny tweeted: "Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes. Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!" IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR. You know what to do. Please buy the song from Johnny's website, or just click the "Buy" button on the player at the top of the blog! Hey, Welcome to My World also is available as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website! copyright 2012 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved
Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.
Johnny at the end of Artistry on Ice in Beijing. Breathtaking photo from the fabulous Chinese Angels. Yes, of course we have more picspam. Please join me in wading through yet more photos from Johnny's Artistry On Ice China Tour: The Gift That Keeps On Giving..... Beijing Fan Meeting! At the fan meeting, Johnny dons the traditional Chinese coat hand-tailored for him as a gift from the Chinese Angels. The lovely Maria Ma was kind enough to give this report of the fan meeting via Twitter: We waited for him to return from shopping with Meg. Then he greeted us and thanked us for waiting there. After that, we gave him his gift: a traditional Chinese coat, which is specially made according to his size. The coat is stunningly beautiful on him and it fits him pretty well. We asked the Russian fans for help with his measurements, but the coat is still a little bit big for him. Then we handed him his Weibo account and password. [Johnny had tweeted before leaving for China that he wished he had a Weibo account so he could talk more with his Chinese fans. The Chinese Angels had set one up for him about two years ago, but when they saw his tweet, they figured maybe he had forgotten his password!] Then he did Q&A with us by randomly picking Qs. We asked him about details of his competitive programs, the fight between Ping and Tyoma, his wedding, married life, etc. He said Tyoma is so into torturing Ping that Victor sometimes has to sew Ping up. Then Tyoma does it again... Then we promised him another traditional costume, and he signed his married name on the new banner. He said it was the first time he had autographed anything using his married name. He promised to practice the new name more. Then we waved him goodbye. ♥ Johnny in his new coat. IDK what he's doing here, but all I can think of is, "Everyone has nipples." During the meeting, he agreed to let fans gather more measurements for future gifts... ...down to every last detail... More Beijing Beauty Special thanks to Maria Ma for making the rehearsal pics available to me via Facebook! They're also on Weibo via the Chinese Angels. Johnny at rehearsal in Beijing. And a few more shots from the show. One more, from the fan meeting. Please do click twice for full-size view. ♥ IMPORTANT REMINDER! Just one week left to contribute to Johnny's birthday gift!! It's that time again!! Show Johnny Weir the Love is putting together an amazing birthday gift!! Details here. Just $5 gets your name on the card; deadline to participate is Friday, June 22! Photo © David Ingogly. Don't miss Tuesday's mega-massive triple post!! Jampacked with exclusive photos from Junko Mi, and exclusive pics, vids, and stories of the Taiwanese fans' experience with Johnny, thanks to Zoe Cheng. A must-read! Photo courtesy of Zoe Cheng. From "The Essence of Poetry," the latest series of black-and-white photos of Johnny at rehearsal. Not to be missed. Photo © David Ingogly. HE REALLY, REALLY IS!! Landing quads and kicking ass at a Grand Prix event near you! Read his comeback statement on his website! New on Johnny's website!! Johnny returns to perform again in Sun Valley this summer! He'll be the headliner at the Saturday, August 4, ice show, and tickets are on sale now!! Don't miss it! Please click to vote for Johnny once a day as "Best Sportsman"! Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka to tell us he wants us to! (Note: With his "58.132" rating, he is currently in 1st place in both Figure Skating AND across all sports!) Weibo, here we come!! He's heading to China today for Artistry on Ice: Red Temptation! It's not too late! Subscribe now and get the entire Johnny Weir perspective, including his never-before-heard free skate commentary available exclusively on icenetwork.com! Q and A! Go read it now! Johnny's Glitter and Ice collection with MAC is pretty much sold out, but I'm leaving this video on here for a little while longer because I love it so much. Yes! Johnny's dresses are now available for purchase only on eDressMe.com! At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD! Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website! Johnny tweeted: "Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes. Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!" IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR. You know what to do. Please buy the song from Johnny's website, or just click the "Buy" button on the player at the top of the blog! Hey, Welcome to My World also is available as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website! copyright 2012 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved
From straw boaters and cloches, to fascinators, Saturday was all about the hats at the Kentucky Derby, as crowds gathered to watch California Chrome gallop to victory.
Johnny shows off his Russian-flag-inspired manicure at the Russian fan meeting, December 2011. Photo © Tatiana Edrenkina. So today we continue—for no reason at all other than that I love these pics and this interview and I want everybody to read it—our translation of Johnny's interview with Sport Express with parts 3 and 4, translated by the lovely Tatiana Edrenkina and graced with some random new picspam from the Russian fan meeting last December, also by Tati, because she's awesome, and also because yay Russia. But first, the news briefs of the day: (1) Go see Johnny skate in his home rink! Tickets are on sale now for Show of Champions, presented by the Ice House in Hackensack, NJ, on Saturday, August 18! Tickets are $25 for general admission, or $50 for on-ice seating plus the post-show meet-n-greet with the skaters. To purchase, please call the Ice House at 201-487-8444, ext 232. Fireworks also is offering just fifteen Platinum VIP tickets at $175 each that include a coaching seminar, lunch, admission to the pre-show practice, on-ice seating, and the post-show meet-n-greet. Please note that Johnny will not be at the seminar, but is expected at the practice, according to the Ice House. IDK if these are sold out yet, but for more info, please send an email to [email protected]. (2) Post a message of support for Johnny! "Leave a Message for Johnny" is a new feature now available on Johnny's Comeback Gift Fund website. From the site: Many fans who have already sent a gift mentioned that they’d love to have included a message of support with their gift. You’re welcome to do so in the “Message” area of the PayPal screen. But now you also can leave a message here on the site! Our hope is to build a wall of support for Johnny that he can visit anytime, if he’d like, to read and enjoy. Though he can’t offer messages in return (he’s a bit busy…), fans can share their encouraging thoughts and best wishes for him here. Please check it out, and post your message today! (3) Get ready for Husbands the Series Season 2! Love this web series created and produced by Brad Bell ("Cheeks") and Jane Espenson, and I was thrilled to see that Husbands fans fully funded the Kickstarter project to create a second season. I was even more thrilled at the news that came out of San Diego Comic Con this weekend: Among other amazing guest stars, Joss Whedon himself--yes, he of mega Buffy fame, who is now enjoying his most recent huge success as the director of the blockbuster film The Avengers--will be making an appearance in Season 2! This announcement was the number-one story in The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday, which gives you a tiny glimpse of the incredible drawing power Whedon wields. Catch up on Season 1 now, and don't miss the Season 2 premiere on Wednesday, August 15! Photo © Tatiana Edrenkina. Johnny Weir: “At Heart, I’m an Old Russian Woman" Interview in Sport Express posted 06-06-2012 by Slava Malamud translated by Tatiana Edrenkina (Parts 1 and 2 available here.) Part 3: Babushka Tarasova So what will you be like on the ice? Will we see the same Johnny Weir, or a new one? I hope that you will see a wiser Johnny Weir. When you’re young, you make a lot of different mistakes — no one can escape it. I was terribly bitchy, didn’t listen to anyone but myself. When you’re like this, you draw into yourself, and, on bad days, when nothing works out well, nobody is there to help you. I don’t need to be like that anymore. All that I could do for US Figure Skating, I’ve already done. If I don’t succeed now, I will gracefully leave the sport and I will be happy. So the new Johnny Weir is more peaceful and relaxed. I hope that will help me be a stronger skater than I used to be. Will it really help? What if your will to win disappears? I have never been so energized to fight. I’m not as much of a fighter as Plushenko, who fights like a dog to win every competition. Maybe because he’s Russian and I’m American, and we Americans don’t have to suffer and fight for everything like you do. Or maybe it’s just me. I’m not one who’s ready to cut my rival’s throat to win. You love hockey in Russia, so maybe you get your mentality from that. To score a goal, to help your team… I can’t ignore the fact that figure skating is a sport where your destiny is decided by fourteen absolute strangers who are much older than you. George Foreman once told me that Russian boxers are more hungry and angry than Americans. The Russian system of figure skating, as well, is much more serious. In particular, it’s related to the coaches of the old Soviet school. You either succeed, or you’re nothing. Were you shocked when you first encountered this school? I’m sure Tatiana Tarasova did not coddle you. That was exactly what I needed. You see, my first coach, Priscilla Hill, taught me everything I know. But she was a very loving and gentle person, sometimes too much so. And Tarasova kicked my ass. But outside of the rink she was just a babushka [grandmother]: she tried to feed me, comb my hair. Galina Zmievskaya is the same: on the ice, she’s the toughest and most difficult person on earth; but in our regular life, we have a wonderfully warm relationship. What is the characteristic feature of the Russian school of figure skating, from your point of view? What does it mean — “to skate like the Russians”? I can explain that because, more than all the others, I have always thoroughly studied the Russian school. Even when I was a child, [I studied it] on TV. The characteristic feature is that for Russians, everything is very dramatic. Americans are more conservative in their movements. Russians have drama everywhere — costumes, music, technique. Like in hockey, Russians love speed. Movements of the arms and legs are very wide, with a big range. Americans are more restrained. You used to give names to the elements of your costumes… Don’t worry about that! I’m still as strange as before. If I feel the need to give a name to a program or a costume, I will. Why not have fun? The worst thing you can do is treat something too seriously. What is the sense in doing something that doesn’t please you? Actually, it seems that all your weirdnesses are worked out in advance… Worked out in advance? No. I’m really a very strange person, and I’m OK with that. Others are not OK with it. Figure skating is an old kind of sport. Well, not old; let me say, elderly. Traditions rule, and rather elderly people run everything. And by the way, they are not really interested in gay athletes. Although in America, figure skating has the reputation of being a rather gay sport. But it’s kept secret so no one will be upset. But l decided long ago that there’s nothing more important in life than the right to be who you are. So it happened that on the one hand, I didn’t feel the need to comply with the norm. But on the other hand, I know without a doubt that all my competitive results suffered greatly because of that. Part 4: Shower for Me, Platinum for Plushenko If you had been judged without bias, what do you think your place would have been at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver? Ugh… You know how much time passed until I found the strength to watch the performances of all the others? After Vancouver, my heart was broken. I was depressed and lost all interest in figure skating. Vancouver was a peak. Yes, exactly, it was the peak moment of my life. The most emotional, the most dramatic, the most beautiful. I went off the ice feeling incredibly high. But when the scores appeared, I immediately understood that I was being put in sixth place. I thought, “Oh wow, how did the others perform?” And when I went backstage, reporters started coming up to me and announcing: this one fell down, that one stopped in the middle of the program and shit on the ice, and the third one looked like he was on fire, with sparks coming out of his nose. Why didn’t I finish higher then?... So I watched all the performances only after seven or eight months, after I had calmed down a bit. I think I should have been third in Vancouver. Looks like you passed through the disappointment more easily than Plushenko did. You bet. How did you take his reaction, that he deserved a platinum medal and so forth? Figure skating takes all of your life, heart and soul. Plushenko sat out for three years after Torino, and if he returned to this hell, it wasn't for second place, right? If it's the only thing that you think about every day, if you wake up every morning only for this, and it slides out of your grasp... Anyone would be sick at heart. To be honest, I have a much better relationship with Zhenya than I do with Evan Lysacek, and I support him much more. Of course, from the PR point of view, [Zhenya] hurt himself a lot in America. But everyone handles disappointments in their own way. Galina, for example, when I ended up in sixth place, went to eat French fries at McDonald's. To let herself do this, she had to have been very upset. I went to cry in the shower. And Zhenya started talking about a platinum medal. Everyone calms themselves down as best they can... Can you say that your relationship with Evan Lysacek, who became a champion then, is poisonous? I haven’t seen him for a long time. And the poison that we used to have was mostly created by American TV and magazines. And by the skating federation, of course. Of course we didn’t like each other. But when I got married, he was one of the first to congratulate me, which shocked me. I suppose we both grew up. We don’t have to like each other, but now I have more respect for what he achieved. And now you’ve decided to return to figure skating. What do you think: will you have more chances? Have the judges become more liberal? I think they have. I hope so. But if they haven’t, I will not go crazy over the heartbreak. By the way, our national federation is now treating me better than ever before. Perhaps they understand that I can boost the popularity of figure skating in America because of who I am. Evan won the Olympics, but no one remembers who he is. Yes, I can bring popularity back to our sport. I hope the federation will assign me to the events where I need to compete [Note: Johnny has been assigned to two Grand Prix events for the 2012-2013 season: Rostelecom Cup (Cup of Russia) and Trophée Eric Bompard], and will tell me how to skate in order to please the judges and not just the audience. In the last two years, I got used to performing for people who applaud me for shaking my ass for them. So, will you be able to please the judges? It will be difficult with them. It was difficult with them for Zhenya, too, when he came back. And I’m not as popular as Zhenya is in Russia… But there’s nothing to complain about. In general, I’m loved and valued in America. The federation knows it, and sees that they need me. Still to come: Parts 5, 6, and 7! Picspam!! Johnny signing autographs at the fan meeting... Photo © Tatiana Edrenkina. ...chatting with the meeting's organizer, Irina Volkova... Photo © Tatiana Edrenkina. Photo © Tatiana Edrenkina. ...listening to fans... Photo © Tatiana Edrenkina. ...enjoying the conversation... Photo © Tatiana Edrenkina. Photo © Tatiana Edrenkina. ...refueling.... Photo © Tatiana Edrenkina. ...and thoroughly enjoying himself. ♥ Photo © Tatiana Edrenkina. Bonus pic!! Photo tweeted yesterday by Johnny: "Sunday steam bubble at @mrericalt @ericaltsalons." Fortunately for all the rest of us who are unfamiliar with such exotica, Tatiana once again came to our rescue with this link. Also: Yay that his Twitter has finally reconnected with his Facebook fan page! Very special thanks to Tatiana Edrenkina for the translation and all the gorgeous photos! New on Johnny's website!! He's skating in Hackensack on August 18!! Tickets are just $25 for general admission, or $50 for on-ice seating plus post-show meet-n-greet with the skaters! To purchase tickets, call the Figure Skating Office at the Ice House, 201-487-8444, ext. 232. Yes, YOU can be a part of Johnny's comeback! Please visit Johnny's Comeback Gift Fund today and chip in as little as $1 via PayPal. Our small gifts can help make his dream of competing in his third Olympic Games come true! And now you can leave a message of support for Johnny, too! More from Johnny's website!! He's heading back to Japan in early September for Fantasy on Ice! Info here! HE REALLY, REALLY IS!! Landing quads and kicking ass at a Grand Prix event near you! Read his comeback statement on his website! Johnny returns to Sun Valley this summer! He'll be the headliner at the Saturday, August 4, ice show, and tickets are on sale now!! Don't miss it! Please click to vote for Johnny once a day as "Best Sportsman"! Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka to tell us he wants us to! (Note: With his "58.132" rating, he is currently in 1st place in both Figure Skating AND across all sports!) It's not too late! Subscribe now and get the entire Johnny Weir perspective, including his never-before-heard free skate commentary available exclusively on icenetwork.com! Q and A! Go read it now! Johnny's Glitter and Ice collection with MAC is pretty much sold out, but I'm leaving this video on here for a little while longer because I love it so much. Yes! Johnny's dresses are now available for purchase only on eDressMe.com! At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD! Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website! Johnny tweeted: "Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes. Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!" IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR. You know what to do. Please buy the song from Johnny's website, or just click the "Buy" button on the player at the top of the blog! Hey, Welcome to My World also is available as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website! copyright 2012 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved
Figure skater Johnny Weir attends the Figure Skating in Harlem's 2010 Skating with the Stars benefit gala in Central Park on April 5, 2010 in New York City.
Figure skater Johnny Weir poses on the runway at the Alice + Olivia Fall 2012 Presentation during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Center 548 on February 13, 2012 in New York City.
null
...as does its wearer. Here's Johnny during the opening number of the second act of Holiday Dreams on Ice, a mashup of Adele's "Rumour Has It" and "Someone Like You." New!! Super hi-res version available here. Kayso I realize I said the other day that we'd just go through these gajillions of photos in chronological order, because that was the only framework by which I felt I could even take a stab at organizing what we have, and technically that means we should be looking at yet more rehearsal pics today. But in scrolling through all 4,450 (!) photos in our library, I became transfixed by this set.... So we're using the tesseract (bonus points if you know the reference) to jump ahead and roll around in this performance today. Well, half of it, anyway. These take us just about two minutes into the four-minute Adele mashup number, so I'll run the other half on the next entry. Because viewing nearly 50 of these all at once is kind of almost too much to take in.... Also, the other hitch with chronological order is that during the show we encountered some... technical difficulties. By the time we got to showtime on Friday, the battery in Davey's main camera was at 50% power--which should still be enough to get through a show. Except that it wasn't. He was nursing it along, turning it off at every opportunity to conserve charge, and it was still holding steady at 50% every time he turned it back on. And then, just as the first notes of Bad Romance filled the arena, and Johnny came gliding out, Davey got off five quick shots and then... FAIL. The battery went from 50% to ZERO in ten seconds. And this was the backup battery--the other one was already dead. So we spent Johnny's entire Bad Romance performance frantically hauling out Davey's backup camera and shoving the other one back in the bag with muted snarls, and switching lenses and checking and rechecking THIS battery, and finally surfacing just in time to miss. the. whole. thing. So. We have no Bad Romance shots other than the best one of the five that I ran here last week. Which leaves us with a bit of a gap in our time-space continuum. But we have lots of these. Lots and lots. And they are really amazing. So here you go. With more to come. (As always, please click photos twice for full-size view. Extra-huge versions are available for some photos as noted. This is the first time I've really gotten to see the detailing on this costume--which is the one he wore to premiere "Dirty Love" at Holiday Dreams on Ice in December 2010--and, like all his costumes, it is just wow.) Super hi-res here. Super hi-res here. Super hi-res here. Super hi-res here. Super hi-res here. Super hi-res here. Super hi-res here. Super hi-res here. Super hi-res here. Super hi-res here. Super hi-res here. Bonus video!! Here's the "Rumour Has It/Someone Like You" performance from the show. Special thanks to Wendy Stevenz for her stalwart videotaping despite her frozen fingers!! A Special Message from a Future Star! I received an email last week whose subject line was "Misfit Mimes Blogging Revolution," which totally cracked me up. And I opened it to find this lovely note from Maria Prymak, one of the Future Stars from Holiday Dreams on Ice. I met her beautiful mother, Vlada, at the show, and really enjoyed talking with her. Maria would like to tell everyone what it was like to be in a Fireworks show: THE BEST EXPERIENCE!!! My name is Maria Slava Prymak, and I was fortunate enough to be a "Future Star " in the Holiday Dreams On Ice Show! It was a pleasure to be in the show as well as meeting all the stars, especially Johnny Weir!♥ When I was watching him, and the other stars, it looked so easy and graceful! Thank you so much for the wonderful time and memories. --Maria Slava Prymak Maria's mom adds, "By the way, Maria just turned 10 in September. She is a writer, basketball player, and professional model; she speaks three languages; she is a cello and chess player; and the Keystone State figure-skating champion for three years in a row. Please forgive me for my pride." Vlada, of course you are proud! Maria is amazing, and she was a joy to watch in the show as one of the skaters chosen for a special "step-out" during the Future Stars' performance. Thank you both for sharing your hearts with us! Maria and Johnny. Photo coutesy of Vlada Prymak. Maria and her friend, Lily Delle-Levine, with their HDOI programs (their names are in the program!!). Photo courtesy of Vlada Prymak. Lily and Johnny. Photo courtesy of Mary Ann Levine. HEY THIS IS KIND OF SHORT NOTICE BUT IF YOU'RE IN NYC THIS WEEKEND, DON'T MISS THIS GREAT EVENT!! Holiday Dreams on Ice choreographer Shannon Leigh Lenihan is one of the organizers of this beautiful charity show, whose purpose is to help raise money for the fight against breast cancer. The show is free to the public, but donations are welcome, and VIP tickets are available for just $30. For more info, please see the press release on IceNetwork, or visit Iced Pink's Facebook page. A wonderful show for a wonderful cause, at a price to suit nearly every budget! BTW fabulous celeb photographer Andrew Werner--who has given us such Johnny gems as this--will be taking pics at the show. Please go if you can--it will be well worth it! All HDOI photos © David Ingogly. Return of the Safety pants!! Get ready: Improv-Ice is coming up on NBC, Sunday, January 15, at 4 pm EST / 3 pm CST! Johnny performs to LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It," and Styx' "Grand Illusion"--and viewers at home get to vote to determine which skater did the best job improvising a program to the songs chosen for them!! Photo courtesy of Disson Skating-- see the gallery here! New Q and A! Go read it now! Cuz my friend Jen Bee sent in this question and he answered it!! Johnny's Glitter and Ice collection with MAC is selling out fast! Don't miss your chance to sparkle-- visit a MAC retailer or order online ASAP! Yes! Johnny's dresses are now available for purchase only on eDressMe.com! At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD! Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website! Johnny tweeted: "Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes. Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!" THE WORLD NEEDS THIS VIDEO IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR. You know what to do. Please buy the song from Johnny's website, or just click the "Buy" button on the player at the top of the blog! Hey, Welcome to My World also is available as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website! copyright 2012 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved
Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering...
Johnny Weir finally revealed how he's surviving those bitter winds at the Winter Olympics, and you're going to want to try it immediately.
Every morning for the past week, I have woken up, made myself a cup of coffee, and sat down in front of the television to hang out with Johnny Weir and...
Johnny at his photo shoot for Refinery29 on Wednesday. Photo posted by @geordypearson (please go there now and read all the comments): “Shot legendary figure skater @johnnygweir for @refinery29 today. Dude is epic.” Lovelovelove this whole look. So lately I’ve been judiciously not blogging on Thursdays because it’s pretty much become Johnnyday, in which we eagerly devour his latest Falls Church News-Press column (UPDATE: today's column is fascinating!) and also squee over his recent fondness for posting multiple Throwback Thursday pics, but yesterday dude was epic at his Refinery29 shoot, and so clearly these pics had to be posted immediately whilst we await dude’s actualfax photos on Refinery29’s site. But first, there was additional awesomeness yesterday as Johnny announced that he’s now among the celebrity clients of Premiere Speakers Bureau, whose remarkable and wide-ranging roster includes Anderson Cooper (love him); Tony Mendez, the author of Argo, who was portrayed by Ben Affleck in the Oscar-winning film; outstanding documentarian Ken Burns; executive chef Marcus Samuelsson, whom we recently saw on Johnny’s episode of Chopped All-Stars; Virgin CEO/maverick Richard Branson; and quite a few Olympians, including Rowdy Gaines, Nastia Liukin, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee (and, yes, Scott Hamilton, but he’s not my fav so he gets no link. Also a surprising number of ultra-conservative speakers—Mike Huckabee, Michelle Duggar, a bunch of Fox News people I don’t like—who really ought to be in a group photo with Johnny exactly as seen above because that would be the most fabulousness they’ll ever have the privilege of encountering in their lives. Although actually that would be true even if he was wearing sweats and a baseball cap). Johnny’s bio page includes video of his wonderful HRC Visibility Award acceptance speech, and also notes that his speaking topics include motivation and empowerment, self-empowerment, facing fears, sports and pressure, and my personal favorite: “Family Values.” YES. PERFECT. LOVE IT. Eat that, Smuckers. So I’m thrilled to see him add this to his résumé (note that his Twitter bio was recently updated to include “Public Speaker”), and I can’t wait to buy tickets to see him speak anywhere, anytime, on any subject. But especially on family values. This will inspire so many! RT @johnnygweir: Very excited to be working with @premierespeaker and the ability to bring my voice to the world! — princessomega (@princessomega) May 8, 2013 @johnnygweir @premierespeaker The world needs to hear your voice & learn from your inspiring journey & wisdom. I could listen to u all day!💗 — Koula_jwaussiekitten (@jweaussiekitten) May 8, 2013 @johnnygweir You speak like you skate, from the heart, with rich vision, seemingly effortless. Glad more can listen to you @premierespeaker — Novia(@noviarium) May 8, 2013 Me too. OK! On to some brief picspam! First glimpse, tweeted by lovely kind Victor, who always seems to understand our utter desperation for sneak peeks. Photo tweeted by @BBRILL. Photo posted by @lauramillerphoto: “my @johnnygweir dreams have come true. @refinery29” Photo tweeted by Johnny—a closer view of Victor’s shot: “A look from today’s shoot with @refinery29. I love any short/dress combo.” Photo tweeted by Johnny: “Representing @kerinsworld at my @refinery29 shoot! #swag @ shootdigital” Photo posted by @Refinery29: “Well if it isn’t @johnnygweir! On set with R29 today being fab in his @kerinsworld sunnies” Photo tweeted by Johnny: “Getting a little candy corn at @kerinsworld A.Morir Studio!! Yay! @ Glamsterdam Palace” And one more. Photo posted by @pieraluisa: “Johnny Weir is fun incarnate. #selfie @johnnygweir” Yes!! A tiny scrap of video from the shoot! First posted by @lindsaysue via Vine, then uploaded to YouTube by @elle_velle (thank you!). Video link. Fun in the Fan Store! The Team Weir-Voronov fan store now has updated calendars, in case you missed out on buying yours in January! The new 12-month version runs from July 2013 to June 2014, while the 18-month version takes you from July 2013 all the way to December 2014. And keychains are a hit: Photo tweeted by @princessomega: “My new keychain arrived from @TeamWeirVoronov I love it so much.” Photo tweeted by @dauphinedw: “outta the loop lately but still outta control of spending where @johnnygweir is concerned! #teamweirvoronov @zazzle” Pro tip: If you order from the fan store through Johnny’s Comeback Gift Fund website, Zazzle tacks on a bonus percentage that means a larger donation to the fund with each purchase. Please visit often—new products coming soon! Bonus pics!! For Throwback Thursday: Johnny at Asher Levine’s presentation, NYFW Fall 2011. Photo by Alexander Thompson, from his gorgeous gallery. For more of those eyebrows, check out this adorable video of Asher and Johnny. Photo tweeted last weekend by @Lance161996: “Just met @JohnnyGWeir. I started crying. OMG I love him!” I believe they’re at Stephanie Handler’s studio of wonder. Photo tweeted Tuesday by Victor: “We come home from work and this is the disparity in style. Too tired to further comment.” I love this so much. Yes!! GO DELAWARE! Photo via the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force. I am so proud of Delaware and for having been a Delaware resident for so long. Congratulations to all my brothers and sisters in DE! — Johnny Weir-Voronov (@JohnnyGWeir) May 7, 2013 Delaware got it right...can’t stop progress. Not in this country. One State at a time. — Victor Weir-Voronov (@Vweirvoronov) May 8, 2013 Way to go Delaware!!! — Patti Weir (@pattimooreweir) May 7, 2013 Special offer for Johnny’s fans from TWELV Magazine: Get his fabulous limited-edition cover issue of TWELV— no longer available on newsstands—for 50% off! If you’d like to grab one, please email Kevin at [email protected], and he’ll explain how to order and pay for your copy. Do it now—there are only a few left! Please continue to tweet @Nike in a non-irritating way and tell them you’d love for them to sponsor Johnny! If you’re not on Twitter, you may write to them at Nike World Headquarters, One Bowerman Drive, Beaverton, OR 97005. More info here! #JustDoIt To see up-close how battered and worn his skates are from thousands of training hours—particularly the left skate, because Johnny is a rare clockwise jumper and spinner— please click here. Photo © David Ingogly. Johnny’s latest column for the Falls Church News-Press, in which he discusses a fascinating theory he's developed! His columns are published every Thursday in the “National Commentary“ section—don’t miss a single one! Congratulations to Johnny, winner of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund’s HERO Award!! Johnny will be honored at the DVLF’s annual Heroes event on Sunday, May 19, in Philadelphia. Reminder: During the event, they’ll be raffling off dinner with Johnny and Victor (!) plus an overnight stay for two in NYC. Tickets on sale now! For more info, please visit the DVLF website. “The Future of Everything“: Johnny is an amazing choice for both a Nike sponsorship and nomination to the newly founded National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. Here’s why, and what fans can do to help. Exclusive photo © David Ingogly. A number of Johnny’s auction items have been relisted, which means if you missed out the first time around, you’re in luck: It’s not too late to own a piece of Weir Gear! Go check it out and see what treasures you could take home! Ice Dreams returns! (Though apparently not to Chicago, sadly.) More info here! Patti has posted a new message on Johnny’s Comeback Gift Fund website, with her thoughts on 2013 Nationals and what lies ahead for next season. Please go read it now! Please alert absolutely everyone you’ve ever met to “like” and follow the new Johnny Weir To Host SNL! (Yes Please) campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. Because he should be on all the things. With or without ice. But definitely with Viacheslav. HE REALLY, REALLY IS!! Landing quads and kicking ass! Read his comeback statement and the update on his website! Please click to vote for Johnny once a day as “Best Sportsman”! Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka to tell us he wants us to! Need to see Seasons 1 and 2 all over again? Watch episodes online anytime on Logo! Please be sure to check in with GetGlue anytime you’re watching the show... or thinking about watching the show.... or wishing you were watching the show.... At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD! Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website! Johnny tweeted: “Buy my single,’Dirty Love’ via iTunes. Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!” IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR. You know what to do. Please buy the song from Johnny’s website, or just click the “Buy” button on the player at the top of the blog! Hey, Welcome to My World also is available as an eBook! More info on Johnny’s website! copyright 2013 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved Tweet
American figure skater and three-time US National Champion, Johnny Weir performs during Holiday Dreams on Ice at the Class of 1923 Arena, University of Pennsylvania on December 23, 2011 in...
Out Olympic ice skater Johnny Weir attended alice + olivia's New York Fashion Week presentation last night, wearing a giant fur coat, a
US Johnny Weir celebrates on the podium of at the Scandinavium arena in Gothenburg on March 22 during the World Figure Skating Championships. Canada's Jeffrey Buttle won the gold medal, France's...
Johnny at LA Pride. Bubbles!! So beautiful. (via Kebiana's Den)
In what could be the most bitter end of a same-sex celebrity marriage we've seen to date, Johnny Weir went on the record about his split from husband Victor
Because pretty Johnny makes any day better. [via]
Johnny. Exclusive photo © David Ingogly. Please do click twice for full-size view. Gorgeous. When we allow ourselves to exist truly and fully, we sting the world with our vision and challenge it with our own ways of being. — Thomas Moore So Johnny’s on his way to Taipei to perform in the incredible Artistry on Ice tour, on a flight that began just after midnight Monday night and will end about 13 hours later early Wednesday morning in Taiwan, which sounds like it should be more like 28 hours later, since Wednesday is typically a whole day or so after Monday, except that it isn’t when you’re flying to Asia, although I’m guessing it may sort of feel like a 13-hour week, which makes travel math sound like skating math, which brings us to the news from more than 13 hours prior to his takeoff, which is that the ISU released the Grand Prix list (full announcement here) for the upcoming season and Johnny wasn’t on it. Which caused a great disturbance in the Cabal best summed up in the complicated way of the Internet as: :( However, all is not lost! :) Though it’s fairly complicated since this is, of course, skating. :/ So here’s the thing, based on sources available to me at this moment / no warranties implied or expressed / your mileage may vary: (1) Johnny’s absence from the list is not an overt diss from the ISU nor US Figure Skating as far as I know, and as much as it would please me to blame them. Instead, I’m left with blaming them for the fact that it’s June but here in Chicago it’s March, because the temperature is 42 degrees as I write this and that’s a number I don’t like so therefore it must somehow be their fault because I don’t like a lot of their numbers. And it’s numbers that led to his non-appearance on the list, from what I understand via people far more learned than I in the obscure patois of Sanskrit, hieroglyphs, and advanced theoretical math (theoretical as in it bears little resemblance to the actual reality that it supposedly quantifies Denis Ten) that is figure skating these days, the pertinent number in question being this: Because his last season was cut short and he did not complete a full GP event—meaning skate both a short and long program (since he had to withdraw from Rostelecom after the short, and Finlandia is not a GP event)—he did not accumulate the international competition points necessary to be placed on this year’s GP list. (2) Despite that, he remains in USFSA’s ISP (International Selection Pool, not Internet Service Provider, though I’d love to imagine the content Johnny might offer in that capacity...), meaning that he is still among the “athletes being considered for an international competition.” (3) So he could, as I understand it, fill a TBA slot on the GP list. Many seem to think that the open spot at Skate America MIGHT be a possibility. (4) And there is still a path to Sochi for him even without the GP. This is apparently a two-pronged effort, involving (a) accumulating enough international competition points through non-GP senior B events such as Finlandia, Nebelhorn Trophy, Golden Spin of Zagreb (I am not making this up but I feel like I am), etc., to be eligible, and (b) working his way to US Nationals through sectional and regional competitions and placing well at Nats in order to be chosen for one of the two US Oly team men’s spots. For more on the topic, please see this discussion on Johnny’s Facebook fan page and try to follow along without getting a migraine. So! For all who still long to see Johnny compete for one more glorious season, ending with his appearance in Sochi, it is likely too early for black armbands and drunken choruses of “Dirty Love.” At the same time, there also are many other factors involved in this intense and complicated journey, and many decisions that lie ahead. Ultimately only Johnny can make the choices that are best for him, while his fans around the world offer their love and support all along the way. In the meantime, he’s got a summer full of exhibition skating for all of us to enjoy, which thus far includes four performances with Artistry on Ice in China, three with Fantasy on Ice in Japan (yay for Victor accompanying him and celebrating their birthdays with Japanese fans in July!), and Sun Valley on July 13 and August 31. If you have a chance to attend any of these, DO IT. Seeing Johnny perform live is a breathtaking and unforgettable experience that is truly not to be missed. And here to remind us of that are videos from his performances over the weekend in Oakland: His “Black Swan.” So beautiful. Video link. Born This Way. Absolutely love it. Video link. Can’t get enough of this... ...so thank goodness for @ayukovon! Artwork tweeted yesterday: “@JohnnyGWeir Have a safe trip! And break a leg in ASIA!” Bonus video: More Vine vids from Johnny!! First he tweeted this one yesterday: “Oakland. And the beat goes on...” Video link. And then this one: “San Francisco to Taipei. ✈” Video link. Bonus pic!! Happy Pride Month! Johnny as the LA Pride Parade Grand Marshal, June 2011. Relive the glory (and the hair) here! And one more. Always dazzling, always inspiring, always reflecting light and love wherever the journey takes him. Exclusive photo © David Ingogly. First sign of summer: Sun Valley tickets are on sale! Johnny is scheduled to perform again this year in Sun Valley’s gorgeous outdoor summer ice shows. More info and tickets here! Photo of Johnny in Sun Valley, summer 2012, courtesy of Mackenzie Keller. Johnny’s in China the next two weeks!! For show and ticket info, please visit the official Artistry on Ice website, Facebook page, or Weibo page. And get ready for the Weibocalypse... Please continue to tweet @Nike in a non-irritating way and tell them you’d love for them to sponsor Johnny! If you’re not on Twitter, you may write to them at Nike World Headquarters, One Bowerman Drive, Beaverton, OR 97005. More info here! #JustDoIt To see up-close how battered and worn his skates are from thousands of training hours—particularly the left skate, because Johnny is a rare clockwise jumper and spinner— please click here. Photo © David Ingogly. Johnny’s latest column for the Falls Church News-Press. His columns are published every Thursday in the “National Commentary“ section—don’t miss a single one! Special offer for Johnny’s fans from TWELV Magazine: Get his fabulous limited-edition cover issue of TWELV— no longer available on newsstands—for 50% off! If you’d like to grab one, please email Kevin at [email protected], and he’ll explain how to order and pay for your copy. Do it now—there are only a few left! The Team Weir-Voronov fan store now has updated calendars, in case you missed out on buying yours in January! The new 12-month version runs from July 2013 to June 2014, while the 18-month version takes you from July 2013 all the way to December 2014. “The Future of Everything“: Johnny is an amazing choice for both a Nike sponsorship and nomination to the newly founded National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. Here’s why, and what fans can do to help. Exclusive photo © David Ingogly. A number of Johnny’s auction items have been relisted, which means if you missed out the first time around, you’re in luck: It’s not too late to own a piece of Weir Gear! Go check it out and see what treasures you could take home! Patti has posted a new message on Johnny’s Comeback Gift Fund website, with her thoughts on 2013 Nationals and what lies ahead for next season. Please go read it now! Please alert absolutely everyone you’ve ever met to “like” and follow the new Johnny Weir To Host SNL! (Yes Please) campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. Because he should be on all the things. With or without ice. But definitely with Viacheslav. HE REALLY, REALLY IS!! Landing quads and kicking ass! Read his comeback statement and the update on his website! Please click to vote for Johnny once a day as “Best Sportsman”! Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka to tell us he wants us to! Need to see Seasons 1 and 2 all over again? Watch episodes online anytime on Logo! Please be sure to check in with GetGlue anytime you’re watching the show... or thinking about watching the show.... or wishing you were watching the show.... At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD! Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website! Johnny tweeted: “Buy my single,’Dirty Love’ via iTunes. Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!” IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR. You know what to do. Please buy the song from Johnny’s website, or just click the “Buy” button on the player at the top of the blog! Hey, Welcome to My World also is available as an eBook! More info on Johnny’s website! copyright 2013 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved Tweet
A delighted Johnny at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow Thursday morning, where he was greeted by beloved Russian fans bearing gifts and flowers. Exclusive photo © Elena Vasileva. UPDATE: Now 50+ pics below, with NEW exclusives! Plus new video! Just Announced!! Johnny will be appearing on HuffPost LIVE Wednesday, October 22, to talk about To Russia With Love, and you can start posting questions for him NOW at this link! You also can tweet the segment producer, Gabe Piscione, to see if you can ask a question live on camera during Johnny’s appearance. Get those questions in, and be sure to watch Johnny on October 22! Premiering October 29!! Johnny stars in To Russia With Love, a new documentary about LGBT athletes, portions of which were filmed in secret during his time in Sochi as an NBC figure skating commentator. He also is an executive producer for the film, a project of Robert Redford’s Sundance Productions. More info here and on the EPIX website. The official trailer! Video link. Get ready: Johnny’s episode of DREAM SCHOOL: NYC airs Wednesday, October 22, 10 pm EDT / 9 pm CDT! Johnny stars with other celebrity teachers in partnership with NYC’s Beekman School to help turn around the lives of 15 teens who dropped out of conventional high school. New sneak peek at Johnny’s episode! Video link. Read more about his episode here! NEW Snow King Teaser! The first tour dates have been announced, ticket sales have commenced, and now we have another glimpse of Evgeni Plushenko’s amazing “enchanting fairy tale on ice for the whole family.” The show is based on an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s story, The Snow Queen, with Johnny playing the role of Kai. Video link. Behind-the-scenes sneak peek here. Dear Johnny, we believe in you, we support you, and we love you always. ♥ http://bit.ly/WeLoveYouJW Note: Candles last only 48 hours, so please visit often to keep the love and light shining... Exclusive photo © David Ingogly. So I have propped myself up on my fainting couch, where I’ve been convalescing for days, stricken by some kind of viral scourge that has left me coughing like an escapee from an Edwardian TB sanatorium, just long enough to wanly fling some picspam out here before collapsing again under another paroxysm of hacking, because these are just too wonderful to wait until I am more fully recovered. Plus I am really terrible at being sick—pretty much as bad as I am at sleeping—and I get bored with the whole thing after about the first 24 hours, so thank Weirsus here are these amazing photos that will probably do more to cure me than any amount of rest anyway. BRB shoving the fainting couch back in the attic... But first: ICYMI, which IDK how that could even be possible since I keep embedding it everywhere and have probably personally emailed it to everyone I’ve ever met as well, but yay here you are, and even if you didn’t miss it, it’s worth rewatching a time or two or twelve: the official trailer for To Russia With Love was released on Tuesday! And it is beautifully done: Please share everywhere. This film is so important and not to be missed. Video link. And yes, of course we have a transcript and a few screencaps: Announcer: Russia’s new law banning propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations to minors has created an international backlash. Title overlay: To ignorance...with compassion Mark Tewksbury: It’s taken a long time, but I do feel like Sochi is a bit of a tipping point. Title overlay: To brutality...with strength Johnny: It matters to you that your Olympics is going to be in a country that thinks of you not as a real part of society. Belle Breckhoff: You can take it quite personally. We should have kissed. I think that would have been a very big, history-making sort of thing. Title overlay: To fear...with courage Vladislav Slaviskiy: They attack me every evening... Title overlay: Some athletes stand for more than gold. (Female voice): This could have been the raised fist in protest. Johnny: An Olympic flame isn’t going to change the world. You have to change the world yourself. To Russia With Love. Johnny and Vlad. Speaking with Belle Breckhoff. “An Olympic flame isn’t going to change the world... ...You have to change the world... ...yourself.” While I love everything about the trailer, to me the moment with the most visual impact is the single second right before the screencap above. It happens here, from 00:42 to 00:43... ...as Johnny, seen only in shadow, performs on the ice under the impassive gaze of a Russian officer. And just to be clear: pretty much the entire time that Johnny was being criticized mercilessly for his decision to go to Sochi, he was secretly working on this project. So that months after the Games were over, the vodka-poured-in-the-streets protests long abandoned, and his critics off on other tangents, his efforts could help ensure that the spotlight would once again be focused on this human-rights issue enveloping a country he loves with all his heart. Because the world might forget. But he would not. Johnny Returns to Russia! 10-09-2014. At Sheremetyevo, where fans who have not seen him for two years await his arrival... OK, first you have to watch the video, even if you already watched it earlier today, because this: @misfitmimes @JohnnyGWeir That was very, very sweet. How to say this...so much love & mutual respect in one place. Just so lovely to see! ♡ — Berry Glitterfairy (@kiichigo82) October 9, 2014 So here you go: Video link. And now, the picspam! The photos in this first series are all exclusives from my dear friend Elena Vasileva, who not only took a zillion pics for Johnny’s fans around the world to enjoy, but also brought him a basket of her own beautiful homemade pirozhki. She explains: “In Russia, we have an old tradition—we meet the most dear guest with bread-and-salt. But there is something even better: pirozhki!” Accompanied, of course, with flowers. And Starbucks. ♥ A beautiful bouquet ready and waiting for Johnny... ...and he loves it! Chatting with fans... (Elena says here he is describing what a hard worker Evgeni Plushenko is on the ice.) ...and also being a good listener, as always. (Yay Starbucks!) With gorgeous sunflowers from Tatiana Edrenkina! Getting things packed up to go, as his driver has been waiting patiently... With all his gifts, including the basket of pirozhki... ....and a really big smile. On his way! This series is from Anastasiya Bochkareva’s fabulous gallery and her Facebook album, which she titled, “Sweet memories.” Beautiful, smiling, and presumably coherent (in Russian) after spending all night on an airplane. I love this. And this. Apparently a moment of serious business. Group pics! Via Anastasiya’s Facebook. Left to right: Liza Simakina, Elena Vasileva, Vera Chayko, Irina Volkova, Johnny, Tatiana Edrenkina, and Nadia Vasilyeva. And this time Elena takes the pic so Anastasiya can be in it (far left)! Via Facebook. And now he’s really on his way. UPDATE!! New exclusive photos series from Tatiana Edrenkina! Gifts of love await Johnny, among them beautiful sunflowers from Tatiana... ...and delicious pirozhki from Elena! He’s here!! Please do click for larger view so you can see the look on his face. ♥ A special gift from Liza Simakina. Tatiana explains: “She gave him her collection of figure skating stamps from all over the world, including the countries of which existence we didn’t even know. That was a wow! moment.” Johnny takes his time to savor this amazing gift. And then one more photo before he’s off to his waiting car. Bonus pics!! Via a very appreciative Johnny: “Moscow Baby! Thank you to my beautiful ladies who greeted me at Sheremetyevo!” Via Johnny: “Flowers and coffee, the way to my heart!” Bonus video!! An Evening With Champions has released the entire Saturday night show on YouTube, which is wonderful. Part 1 is here, and Part 2 here, featuring Johnny’s “Human” performance beginning at about 58:47. Or even better: you can just watch Johnny’s “Human” here, thanks once again to video ninja Elena Vasileva! Video link. To Russia With Love Bonus photo art. (Please click for full-size images.) And one more: absolutely stunning fan art by @MethaPhiZika on Twitter. Please click for full-size image! Very special thanks to Elena Vasileva for the exclusive photos! ICYMI: “Dragon.” The first series of exclusive photos from An Evening With Champions, featuring Johnny’s debut of the spectacular dragon costume given to him by his Chinese fans. “Bold Beauty: Bollywood Revisited.” A stunning new look at Johnny’s Nagada Sang Dhol program in a series of 35+ exclusive photos, plus exclusive video. “To Stand in a Ray of Sunlight.” Gorgeous sun-drenched photos of Johnny at rehearsal in Sun Valley, plus exclusive video of his practice. “Human.” The US debut of Johnny’s stunning and hauntingly beautiful new program. Selected exclusive photos, plus exclusive HD video. “Be Gorgeous Without Your Pants.” 50+ Artistry on Ice pics plus all-new videos, including Beijing and Guangzhou press conferences! “Magic Becomes Art...” 60+ spectacular pics from Shanghai, including the most beautiful “Concubine” series yet. Stunning fan art by @glace_icywaterdri on Weibo. “Concubine.” Beautiful mega-picspam from the Guangzhou livestream. Photo art detail from an exclusive photo © Joveta Leo. Johnny and Tara’s brilliant commentary segment from Late Night With Seth Meyers! Video link. Watch their interview with Seth here. Johnny and Dora!! Watch his spot over and over again here, here, or here! On Johnny’s website, linked to his retirement statement. Thank YOU, Johnny! ICYMI: Johnny plans to discuss his personal difficulties just once, in an exclusive interview with Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush. The three-part interview is available at these links: Johnny Weir Opens Up On Dramatic Divorce, Part 1 Transcript here. Johnny Weir Opens Up On Dramatic Divorce, Part 2 Transcript here. Johnny Weir: Why He Went Public With His Divorce UPDATE: Transcript here. Johnny Weir & Victor Voronov: No Reconciliation! UPDATE: In response to a rash of erroneous reports in the media, Johnny spoke briefly with Access Hollywood again to set the record straight. Before you point your finger at me, try to do some fact checking. Speaking for myself, I keep my private struggles private. #ArmyofOne — Johnny Weir (@JohnnyGWeir) May 20, 2014 Also on the blog: “Rise Like a Phoenix” An exquisite black-and-white series of Johnny at rehearsal. Exclusive photo © David Ingogly. Please click twice for larger image. Johnny’s latest column for the Falls Church News-Press. His columns are published on Thursdays in the “National Commentary“ section—don’t miss a single one! A number of Johnny’s auction items have been relisted, which means if you missed out the first time around, you’re in luck: It’s not too late to own a piece of Weir Gear! Go check it out and see what treasures you could take home! Please alert absolutely everyone you’ve ever met to “like” and follow the new Johnny Weir To Host SNL! (Yes Please) campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. Because he should be on all the things. With or without ice. But definitely with Viacheslav. Please click to vote for Johnny once a day as “Best Sportsman”! Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka to tell us he wants us to! Watch bonus clips online anytime on Logo! Please be sure to check in with GetGlue anytime you’re watching the show... or thinking about watching the show.... or wishing you were watching the show.... At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD! Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website! Johnny tweeted: “Buy my single,’Dirty Love’ via iTunes. Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!” IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR. You know what to do. Please buy the song from Johnny’s website, or just click the “Buy” button on the player at the top of the blog! Hey, Welcome to My World also is available as an eBook! More info on Johnny’s website! copyright 2014 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved Tweet
Johnny, sparkling light reflected on his face. Exclusive photo © David Ingogly. This was clearly a milestone week in LGBT sports. On Monday, the NBA’s Jason Collins became the first active male athlete in a major US team sport to come out. On the heels of his courageous announcement came the news that he had already been signed to an endorsement deal by Nike, who had recently made it known that they were actively seeking such an athlete, and who had signed newly out WNBA star Brittney Griner just days earlier. Also this week, the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame, founded this spring here in Chicago, announced the launch of its website and Facebook page, and the opening of nominations for the first round of inductees. The nominating form is available here; completed forms can be emailed to [email protected]. According to the press release, chosen honorees will be inducted at a ceremony on August 2 in Chicago as part of the annual “Out at Wrigley Field” festivities. (You know what to do: please download that sucker now and email it ASAP! Here are a bunch of details to help you fill it out.) I hope, of course, that both Nike—which might be interested in making room on its roster for an out gay male figure skater, alongside its partnership with the lovely Ashley Wagner—and the Hall of Fame will truly consider Johnny. As we all know, he is an outstanding career athlete: a three-time US national champion, a two-time Olympian now aiming for his third trip to the Winter Games, a World medalist, and the only skater other than Michelle Kwan to win his sport’s Readers’ Choice Award more than once. Along the way to multiple gold medals, he has been knocked down more than once and had to fight his way back, often battling his own sport for the right to compete and live on his own terms. He officially came out in his autobiography, Welcome to My World, more than two years ago, and remains the only actively competing elite skater to have done so since 1996. Though, as he notes in his powerful must-read column this week for FCNP, “Out,” he was never really in the closet, since those in his closest circle have always simply accepted him for who he is. Johnny has garnered numerous LGBT awards in the past several years, both for his activism and for simply living his life out and proud, offering hope and inspiration to people of all ages. In addition—and in contrast to his reputation for being loudly “flamboyant”—he has quietly been reaching out to those who struggle with self-acceptance since before he was officially out. One of the most poignant articles I’ve ever read is this 2010 piece in Slate, by the parent of a child attending a private camp for other young boys like himself—“a trip to a planet where we’re normal,” as the parent gratefully observes: The face of a young man in a baseball cap fills the screen at the center of a circle of 30 or so children. “It’s Johnny!” they yell, meaning Johnny Weir, the “flamboyant,” figure-skating Olympian. The kids are part of an annual gathering of gender-variant and transgender kids—kids born boys who look and act like girls. Outside of this camp weekend, it’s rare for them to hear “how great I think you all are … being true to yourselves,” as Weir tells them. He says he loves the electric-blue spandex suit with the lime-green lightning bolt designed by one boy. He tells a 6-year-old that, no, he doesn’t have a girlfriend, but one day he would like to have a family of his own. And, yes, “Bad Romance” was his favorite song to skate to. “I’ve fallen,” he tells them, referring to the ice, not sin. “I’ve screwed up. The thing is, just sparkle so much that nobody notices. Yeah, that’s it. Sparkle! We’ve got to sparkle!” Welcome to the guarded world of families with gender-variant kids, where a word like sparkle can move you to tears. Earlier that year, of course, there was his unforgettable press conference at the Vancouver Olympics, in which he addressed the homophobic remarks of Canadian broadcasters who had sniggered during the men’s competition that Johnny should undergo gender testing to confirm that he was a man. His response, full of honesty, courage, and humor, is a testament to grace under pressure on one of the sporting world’s biggest stages. Though he was admittedly “pissed” at the comments, his main concern in confronting the broadcasters was this: I don’t want, 50 years from now, more young boys and girls to have to go through this sort of thing and to have their whole life basically questioned for no reason other than to make a joke. ... I hope more kids can grow up the same way that I did, and more kids can feel the freedom that I feel to be themselves and to express themselves. That’s the most important thing, and that’s the message that I wanted to come out of this, because out of ugly, I think the most important thing in life is to make something beautiful. Nearly a year later, and a few weeks after his book was published, Johnny received his 2010 Readers’ Choice Award, standing in front of the skating world at the 2011 US Nationals for the first time as a publicly out skater. In his acceptance speech, he again offered encouragement to those whom others seek to disenfranchise, both inside and outside his sport: Always believe in yourself, and never be afraid to fall down. … I’m so proud of everything that I’ve accomplished; I’m so proud of everything that I’ve won, and that I’ve lost. And I can stand here and be happy and be excited about it, because I did everything on my own terms. I want the skaters of the future never to feel pressured or marginalized, or told what to do, or who to be, or what to skate to, or what NOT to wear. I want everyone to believe in themselves, love themselves, and stand here in ten years and be proud of where they’ve gotten. Johnny is still the only sports role model out there for “pink boys,” the only one proudly embodying the message that you can grow up to be a real man who loves pretty things, competes in the Olympics, and marries the dude of your dreams. As the only American male athlete in any sport to marry his boyfriend while actively competing, Johnny and Victor—whose own story is equally compelling and really, really needs to be told in a book that I would buy instantaneously—are essentially the (handsome and endearing) poster couple for marriage equality in the US sports world, and beloved by fans even in places where homosexuality is met with disapproval and prejudice, like China and Russia. In the wake of Collins’ announcement on Monday came a tsunami of Internet reaction, including dozens of photo galleries acknowledging LGBT athletes who had gone before—all of which included Johnny, of course. One of my favorites, “10 Awesome LGBT Athletes,” gave dry facts and figures about nine athletes before swooning into fangurl mode over Johnny. In the midst of the (totally appreciated) gushing was this beautiful sentence: I like to think that people like Johnny Weir are the future of everything. I do too. Pointing the way to the future, as beautifully as possible, always... Exclusive photo © David Ingogly. Please click twice for gorgeous full-size image. A Special Offer for Johnny Fans from TWELV Magazine, Exclusive to the Blog! Kayso remember this incredible photo shoot for TWELV Magazine, a high fashion and lifestyle magazine that donates 12% of its proceeds to charity? Yesterday I received an email from the awesome Ashley, who works for TWELV and wanted to let me know that they are currently offering the issue with the special Johnny Weir collector’s edition cover—originally priced at $50—to Johnny’s fans for just $25 for a limited time only. Ashley explained that the cover is only available through the magazine directly, as it’s no longer on newsstands and there are just a few copies left. So if you’d like to grab one, you need to do it fast! Please email Kevin at [email protected], and he’ll explain how to order and pay for your copy. May I just say that I own one of these, and it is worth every penny. And not just for the photos, although you could definitely make a case for that. Here’s the intro to his article and photo spread: Like the asteroid named after him, Johnny Weir shoots into Sochi and the pages of TWELV. While figure skaters in America don’t usually carry the kind of name recognition of, say, Eli Manning or Venus Williams, one skater has captured millions of fans, vaulting him into the ranks of the elite. Yes, of course, go right ahead and email them now. I’ll just be here re-reading my copy.... Beyond Brunch: Dinner With Johnny and Victor. No, Really. Reminder: Get your tickets now for the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund’s HEROES event, at which Johnny is being honored with the National Hero Award! Also: during the event, they’ll be raffling off dinner with Johnny and Victor plus an overnight stay for two in NYC, according to the poster above. Wait what...? OMG YES HERE BUY THE TICKETS HERE. Bonus pics!! Photo tweeted by Kelly Green: “What’s a designer without a @johnnygweir #moodboard #lovehim @ Food Network” Dear Kelly: Yes, we love him too WHAT ARE THESE PHOTOS AND HOW DO WE GET THEM. Photo tweeted by Johnny: “Brotherly stare down with @BozJWeir circa 2006 in Delaware. #throwbackthursday” Love this. Photo tweeted by Johnny: “Thanks for dinner @RitasItalianIce! Shades of spring... @ Rita’s Italian Ice” UPDATE: Plus one more today from Johnny: “New costume crotch shot. If you ain’t got a sparkly crotch, you ain’t got nothin’. @ Stephanie Handler Design Studio.” Perfect ending to the week. :D Bonus video!! Last night Johnny tweeted the link to his performance at 2004 NHK Trophy, and asked everyone to enjoy. Please do. Absolutely gorgeous. Please continue to tweet @Nike in a non-irritating way and tell them you’d love for them to sponsor Johnny! If you’re not on Twitter, you may write to them at Nike World Headquarters, One Bowerman Drive, Beaverton, OR 97005. More info here! #JustDoIt To see up-close how battered and worn his skates are from thousands of training hours—particularly the left skate, because Johnny is a rare clockwise jumper and spinner— please click here. Photo © David Ingogly. Johnny’s latest column for the Falls Church News-Press: Powerful and moving. His columns are published every Thursday in the “National Commentary“ section—don’t miss a single one! Congratulations to Johnny, winner of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund’s HERO Award!! Johnny will be honored at the DVLF’s annual Heroes event on Sunday, May 19, in Philadelphia. Tickets on sale now! For more info, please visit the DVLF website. ICYMI: Johnny Weir random rehearsal clips. Video link. Alternate link. “Fire & Ice.” 15+ exclusive new photos © David Ingogly. “Army of Johnny.” 25+ exclusive new photos © David Ingogly. NEW in the fan store: Gorgeous hi-res fan art donated by the artist exclusively to Team Weir-Voronov! Johnny as the “Swan Prince,” © @MDCXVIII on Twitter. Available as a poster or as a premium wrapped-canvas print. Japanese fans: Please use this link. And Johnny as the “Phoenix,” © @MDCXVIII on Twitter. Available as a poster or as a premium wrapped-canvas print. Japanese fans: Please use this link. Order yours today! All proceeds donated to Johnny’s Comeback Gift Fund, administered by the lovely Patti Weir. A number of Johnny’s auction items have been relisted, which means if you missed out the first time around, you’re in luck: It’s not too late to own a piece of Weir Gear! Go check it out and see what treasures you could take home! Ice Dreams returns! (Though apparently not to Chicago, sadly.) More info here! Patti has posted a new message on Johnny’s Comeback Gift Fund website, with her thoughts on 2013 Nationals and what lies ahead for next season. Please go read it now! Please alert absolutely everyone you’ve ever met to “like” and follow the new Johnny Weir To Host SNL! (Yes Please) campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. Because he should be on all the things. With or without ice. But definitely with Viacheslav. HE REALLY, REALLY IS!! Landing quads and kicking ass! Read his comeback statement and the update on his website! Please click to vote for Johnny once a day as “Best Sportsman”! Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka to tell us he wants us to! (Note: With his “58.132” rating, he is currently in 1st place in both Figure Skating AND across all sports!) Need to see Seasons 1 and 2 all over again? Watch episodes online anytime on Logo! Please be sure to check in with GetGlue anytime you’re watching the show... or thinking about watching the show.... or wishing you were watching the show.... At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD! Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website! Johnny tweeted: “Buy my single,’Dirty Love’ via iTunes. Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!” IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR. You know what to do. Please buy the song from Johnny’s website, or just click the “Buy” button on the player at the top of the blog! Hey, Welcome to My World also is available as an eBook! More info on Johnny’s website! copyright 2013 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved Tweet
Content exclusively devoted to all things Johnny Weir until I am able to at least partially recover some semblance of interest in something else.
Johnny Weir was in sixth place heading into Thursday night's figure skating finals at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
