Pop-Up Torino, AKA "Johnny Weird" Takes the Ice

A lot of words have been used to describe U.S. champion figure skater Johnny Weir: "Entertaining."  "Eccentric."  "Flamboyant."  "Confirmed bachelor.  OK, I made up that last one.

But you get the picture.

Johnny and "Camille" dazzled last night in Torino, finishing a surprisingly strong second after the short program.  But as the media have tip-toed gingerly around any overt suggestions about Johnny's sexuality, I decided to ponder those code words a little more deeply.

MalcoVision brings you the result of those ruminations, a sort of "Pop-Up Video" – Olympics style.

Don't worry, purists: I have provided his performance in full, defiling only NBC's pre-skate profile of Johnny.

[Watch video – 9:27, WMV format, high bandwidth]

[Watch video – 9:27, WMV format, low bandwidth]

RELATED: A song whose title has a word that rhymes with "Weir."  [H/T: Queerty]

Comments

[John]

I think its just me...but, I kind of have a thing for the flamy guys.

My favorite is how he dismissed criticism of his wearing of a Soviet warm-up jacket at practice (a gift to him by a Russian skater). "It would be the same as someone wearing a Madonna t-shirt."

And am I the only one that thinks Bode Miller comes off as kind of gay?

[Myackie]

oy! he is too cute. I'm glad the US has this little twinkie to represent us, and I like that he's not afraid to talk.

[Queer Conservative]

He's an excellent skater. After listening to him describe himself though, I find him to be a bit immature. Of course he's only 21 (I think?).

[steve]

Steve Sailer asks whether Russian male skaters are as gay as their US rivals at isteve.com

[Malcontent]

I'd totally do Johnny if I were single. Assuming he'd do me, which he probably never would. I LOVED him strutting around with his Fendi scarf, Louis Vuitton bag and Chanel (?) sunglasses!

SHH!! Not too loud ... Jack Malebranche might hear me ...

[Queer Conservative]

I wonder if Bjork knows he stole parts from her Swan dress to make his outfit?

[Aatom]

well, i love androgynous boys, so he's mine bitches. Jack can have Bode.

[Dan]

Wow. I guess we shouldn't be suprised that my taste in men is also a 180 from Mal's :) Don't get me wrong, I've seen him in interviews and love him. Great sense of humor and very talented... But if i feel like I have to card the guy, it isn't going to work. Give me Bode... or if it has to be a skater, this guy.

[Dan]

... and of course the guy I link to is just shy of 21. Fuckit. Close enuf :)

[Myackie]

Dan...the laws are different in Europe!

[Chad]

I see enough of his attitude in Chelsea and the Meat Packing District. Mal, I question your taste. He's obviously got a touch of the gay, but the only way he'd find himself in my bed was with duct tape over his mouth and a toupee on each pec to at least give the appearance he's gone through puberty.

[Aatom]

very kinky, Chad. i love it.

[Aatom]

so i just finished watching the clip, and I have to say that I was pretty impressed. the glasses and fendi scarf are a bit much, but his performance was breathtaking. and as raw and unformed as his little rebellious streak is, it's nice to see a confident gay man out there speaking his mind, instead of burying his personality in his performances and hoping no one asks him about his nelly behavior. you could do a lot with a man (er, boy) that can spin like that, too.

[Chad]

Aatom, I have yet to come across any gay man here that isn't confident and speaking his mind. I don't think he's at all unique in that fashion.

[PSMike]

See...this is why the entire concept of gay pride is so silly. There's nothing about this kid that makes me proud. But he's still a beautiful skater.

[Yum Yum]

He is really pretty. That's all I can say.

[Aatom]

I was actually thinking of the professional skating world in general, Chad. It's always been a cultutral joke that most of the men are extremely gay, but they act shy or reserved on camera, as if they don't want any attention paid to them except for on the ice. It's the same impulse that drives some men to do drag, I think. Whatever, I still hate sports, even the really gay ones. I'm afraid I'm a terribly typical homo.

[Chad]

Ok... in that context, I can see what you're saying Aatom. What would Brian Boitano fuck? At the time, we couldn't be sure.

Johnny makes it clear.

[Jay Croce]

John, you are not the only one who gets a hit on his Gaydar from Bode. I don't think it's just wishful thinking. He continues to stress that he keeps an open mind about "things", and that he won't live by anyone else's standards. He's hot, and I envy anyone who gets him, male or female.

Johnny Weird? No, he can't be gay! Neither was Liberace. Much.

[Jordan @ The P15 Club]

I almost wet myself when you pink triangled the air quotes in the pop-up video. Priceless.

Also, where was the pink arrow pointing at the bubble ass front and center when Johnny takes a spill? He doesn't do it for me, but that was making me rethink myself.

I'm so glad the announcers got to say both "camel to an outside edge" (which sounded all-too-muck like "camel toe an outside wedge") and "sit-and-spin" in the same sentence. I heart figure skating.

[CS]

How do I cut the clip so that it's only the performance part? I'd like to save it to my hard drive.

[Robbie]

Use Windows MovieMaker. It's usually packaged with XP these days.

[CS]

Thanks, worked like a charm.

[Bob Dodge]

I loved Scott Hamilton's quote last night (Wed.) on Johnny's enthusiastic fans: "We're here, we're Weir, get used to it."

[Bob]

He makes me VERY proud. All of him. What a great character.

[lindz]

great! i thought i was the only one thinking he was kinda suprisingly sexy. is he a fuckboy?!

[will]

well, he was not THAT lucky in Torino.

[BRYCE]

JUST CAUSE A GUY IS CUTE, SEXY, SWEET, HOT & ATHLETIC----HE IS GAY ? AND IF HE IS , SO WHAT ! ! !

[Rocky]

OK peeps...We all love a good show and Johnny can certainly give one. He isnt an act or pre-rehersed but speaks only for himself so take him or leave him. I have been watching him progress and grow since the Dallas National Championships and knew he was the one to watch. My My has he filled out quite well I would do him but who wouldnt I.

[Anya]

Hey guys, this is an interesting Journal entry from Johnny, March 6th I believe was the date:

Hi Everyone-

Thank you so much for coming to the website. I want to start by thanking everyone who has supported me the past month or so. It's been a really tough time for me, and every positive e-mail, letter or message is so appreciated. Thank you.

So I've decided to start naming my entries. The title of this one is "Oy." I'll cover the Olympic Games and what's coming up for me.

I really don't know where to begin with the Olympics. It was magical yet abysmal, fun yet boring and so many other adjectives. I suppose the skating would be a nice place to start. Practices went reasonably well the whole time I was there. I nailed quadruple toeloops and quad triple combinations every practice, and I really felt good. I think the first mistake I made was listening to the federation and arriving about one and a half weeks before my event even took place. Practices were good, but training in your own rink and training in front of media and your competitors for an extended time are quite different. You work, but maybe not as hard as you can so you don't let other people see that you get tired. Sweat and fatigue are very taboo in figure skating I think (Note to self, something to look into.). My short program was good. I didn't attend the draw but I knew I skated right in the middle, and that was a good placement. I was so excited to have my family at the arena, and so excited to perform on Olympic ice. I skated okay, not the best I could, and came in second place. I felt I was a little bit slow and unemotional, and I got sloppy in the straightline step sequence. I had achieved a new personal best with my scores, and I was very happy. I set myself up very well for the free program. I don't even remember too much about my free program. I remember the warm-up more than anything. When the final group of men took the ice it was like a bomb went off. The audience was so loud, and they didn't quiet down until the warm-up ended. It was surreal. I don't remember ever being in such an electric building. I skated third after the warm up, after Zhenya Plushenko and Stephane Lambiel. I started out well with triple axel/triple toe and two other jumping passes, neglecting to do the quad because the pressure was too immense. The program started to unravel after the first minute. I lost my focus, felt insecure about what I was going to do next, and I lost it. I couldn't find my composure at all. I wish for my own mental state I could realize why or how I let myself go, but it's another great mystery to me. After the program, I was pissed. I couldn't remember what my first Olympic freeskate felt like, I missed jumping passes and on top of my own feelings and hatred for all things Olympic, I had America on my shoulders. I wound up placing sixth in the free program and fifth overall, and I realize I very easily could have stood on that podium, but I didn't. Thus ends the skating portion of "Oy."

I somehow created a media frenzy while I was in Torino. I heard that 20.8 million Americans tuned in to watch my free program. Oh joy! :) From my first press conference in Italy on, I knew that Olympic media coverage was different. There were so many newspapers, television stations, radio stations and crazy internet people represented. All I did was be myself. I have read a lot of the articles about me, many good ones, but of course there are the bad ones. I realized that the majority of people and reporters watch skating only during the Olympics, so most people weren't aware with the way I do things. I got brow beaten for it. If I read one more article scrutinizing my sexuality, my fashion sense or why I'm so "flamboyant," I'll scream. The thing is, the majority of the articles were positive or at least had a positive spin, until I lost America's medal. After the free program I was a loose cannon, a "fag," a disgrace, among other things. I'm sticking to the fact that I can only make myself happy or proud, and no matter what I still have talent. I was in Us Weekly, People magazine, I was invited to Elton John's Oscars party, Rosie O'Donnell wrote me, I'll be on MTV coming up as well as a Kathy Griffin comedy special, and popularity wise I'm doing pretty good, but once people forget about these Olympics it will die down again. With my first experience of Olympic media over, I think I'll be a little more cautious next time.

The actual games were thrilling. I loved being around so many other athletes from so many nations. It was a very intense atmosphere in the village, but it worked well. The Opening Ceremonies were phenomenal. Seeing Pavarotti was a once in a lifetime kind of thing, and I'm so grateful that I got to see him. I loved seeing the other skating events. The pairs were especially exciting. I didn't have time to go to any other non-skating events because my media schedule was so hectic, but I had time to party at Russia House. Bosco sponsored the house and it was beautiful. I was actually in the NY Times just for partying, I'd make Paris proud! I didn't get into the trading thing too much, but I traded my white coat from the opening ceremonies with a cross country skier from Kazakhstan. My family being there really made me happy. My brother and father had never really seen me skate live, so having them travel to Europe for the first time, see me skate and go and do their own things was great. Sharing the games with many of my skating friends was great too. So many of us were in our first Olympic Games and we all have known each other forever and it was great to be there with everyone. Overall the Olympics were a great experience, but next time, I want them to be perfect.

After the Games I travelled to Paris, Madrid and Zaragosa to do some shows for Champions On Ice. I took a train to Paris very early the day after the exhibition in Torino with Sokolova, Totmianina, Marinin, Grushina, Goncharov, and Petrenko. Max had to put all my luggage on the train for me because I was moving too slow and my bags were too big and numerous. The show was a little unorganized, but we all ended up having a great time and skating great. The morning after the Paris show we all flew to Madrid and then took a train to Zaragosa. There was a hole the entire length of the ice. Everyone had to jump over it in the middle of their programs. The organizers had put a carpet down on one end of the ice for live singers, and I didn't know about it, so of course I jumped over the hole, landed on the carpet and BAM! Down I went, I got tangled in blue carpet and somehow found my way out and continued on. It was definitely in the "Top Ten Funnies" of my career. Somewhere in between the shows I got really sick. I'm actually still fighting the nasal stuff and coughing, but I think I'll be okay by Worlds. I finally flew home on March 1st. I'd been in Europe since February 3rd, and I was so ready to get home and back to normality. I hacked and wheezed the whole way home and got off the plane, looking stunning as you can imagine, and who greets me? TV cameras! YAY!! As if I hadn't had enough, right? After that was over I found my parents and drove home.

I'm currently back on the ice. I'm not loving it so much right now, but I want to have a good Worlds experience to end my season. I will compete in Calgary, and I hope to compete in four years in Vancouver. In Calgary I'm putting the quad out again, and I'm gonna go for my best performances ever. I know I can do it. After the World Championships I'll be on tour until August, so if my updates are far and few between, forgive me! After Tour I'm hoping to take a vacation to Paris and Moscow and then start training again. Life never stops!

Before I end "Oy," I want to make a special note for everyone who has decided to take it upon themselves to be original and write Johnny Weir a hate mail. I've heard "pussy," "disgrace," "narcissistic," "faggot," "princess," "mentally unstable," embarrassment," "queeny," "I hope we're not related," "out of control," "retarded," "stupid," "queer," "ugly," and many many other lovely things, so try to be more original at least. Oh and F*** You too!

Okay, out with anger in with love. Everyone be safe, have fun and enjoy spring. Thank you so much for all your love and support, and please keep your fingers crossed for Calgary. Again, to those of you who've supported me, many many thank yous, and it is so appreciated and felt. I LOVE YOU!

-Johnny

poor guy...

[Rebeka]

I think Johnny is so hot... I would do him in a hort beat... I was in love the moment I saw him! I sent him a letter and he sent me a post card back!!! Sighed and every thing... I like gay guys... They are so sexy its not funny... I might have to kidnappe him or somthing!! *evil eyes*

[Rebeka]

Im going to kidnappe him and take him away so Ill steal him from anyone. I love gay guys... They are so much more interesting that straite guys... I love you Johnny. And FUCK YOU ASS HOLES!!!! That goes to all you hate mail writers... you are such ego maniacs...

[Malcontent]

I've always thought a great way for a straight guy to get laid would be to pretend to be gay, because there are so many women out there who would sleep with them wanting to "turn" them. I'm sure I got a lot of chicks that way in my bi days.

If that hasn't already been made into a movie, I call dibs!

P.S. That's two times now you've referred to kidnapping. Someone also must think FBI agents are hot ...

[Robbie]

Tch, what Mal, you've never listened to BloodHound Gang? That's criminal.

But if I were handsome just imagine how great it would be
Incognito as gay though but not actually that way though pseudo homo phony
Maybe it's a stupid theory or maybe just stupidity
But if I was a queerbee in the fashion industry
Scoring with a super model would be easy
Cause 'super model' means voluptuous but is also is synonomous with 'super dumb'
Ya see I'd be a good listener so she'd treat me like a sister and soon I'd become
That trusted friend that cares that rubs her back and braids her hair
No it wouldn't be a week before I'm in her underwear
I wish I was queer so I could get chicks

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bloodhoundgang/iwishiwasqueersoicouldgetchicks.html

[jore]

I think Johnny is so cute, extremely friendly,warm-hearted and very special person who needs our support!So what,if he's gay. He's still a man like we are, aren't he:)?!...jore

[Natalie]

I just wanna say I think it´s disgusting to discuss a thing like if he´s gay or not... What would this knowledge change? Nothing! I think he´s a wonderful skater, has a lot of charme and so on, and he´s very, very... SEXY! So it would only be a loss to the feminin world if he was gay, and that´s all! I e-mailed him when I saw the posting on his page because it hurts to hear such things!!!
To all the people that mean to send him hate-mails:
Let him be like he wants to be, discuss it with friends, but don´t discuss it in publicy!!!!! And more than everything don´t ever send him such mails again, what would you say if someone did this to you??? People you don´t even know sending you kinds of that mails? I think you can be happy about that kind reaction, if it was about me to comment such mails I wouldn´t have been so friendly! (That shows the true strength of Johnny!!)

I´ll always love the way Johnny skates and he will have a special place in my heart forever!!!!
Kisses to you, Johnny!!!

[jore]

I agree with you Natalie, indeed!

[Natalie]

Good to hear that, Jore! :)
As I watched the video we all talk about again this evening I once more laughed about the way Johnny comments the discussions: If you don´t get it: He is making fun of the people who seem to have not enough problems theirselves so that they have to discuss the sexuality of one another they don´t know! Got it???

[jore]

Really?!I didn't got it yet..which part of video is it in?:)
I think Johnny is very strong person, couse he can wash over all criticism remarcably...I hold him in very respect!So that i want to fight for him!!!

[Natalie]

I mean his comments: "There are gonna be people who like you and people who hate you, and there´s nothing I can do!" "I can´t change anyones mind about me, except my own! And I´m happy with who Johnny Weir is!" "But for now my critics can eat it!" The last is the most important one; if you think over it you got the point that he´s laughing about the critics (both loud and silent ;) )! Got the point I mean??? :) I mean it´s really clear that he´s also talking about this "sexuality-discussions" because they started while the olympic games took place... He doesn´t speak it out, but I think he doesn´t because the people know what he means... And that they´re meant by saying "my critics"! Read between the sentences... ;) You now understand what I mean? I can´t describe it better because of my bad English... :D
I also think Johnny´s a very strong, kind and wonderful person. So regarding his strength I think Johnny can fight himself more than we could ever don´t you think? :)

[jore]

yep, i know that he can fight himself more than we could, and he does it wonderful, but i want too:)( i know i cant't do anything, but it's just my wish in my subcounscious..ohhhh how i wish!..:)
i think,i'm beginning to understand that do you mean, but now i'm going to read your letter and watch video one more time, to realise better:)
Johnny is so cute....

P.S it's not fit for our talk, but what country are you from?:)

[Natalie]

Yeah, watch it one more time, eventually more times :D ! I don´t think that my opinion described above isn´t that false... Don´t you think?
I´m coming from Germany, many, many, many thousands of miles away from any event Johnny´s taking place in! *sigh*
Where do you come from?
Do you know what I realize at this moment - and that makes me laugh?! Since we started to post no one other said any word! :D Is that meaning s.th. good or bad? *giggle*

[jore]

ooooohhhhhhh!!!!!:)))) I got the point, just now!!!!!!(i don't know why i'm so happy, maybe i thought i would never get it:)!!!!Johnny is the GOD...:)!You was right!!!I would never have noticed it, thanks, indeed:)!!!!(if you see me now:))
(don't take a notice at a part of letter which is above, i went crazy..!:)

I'm from Lithuania. a small country near Baltic Sea and more further from Johnny...:(do you know my country?(many people said that we are part of Russia...bullshit:)!

I think, they are just reading and think that we are crazy...:)It's good. We are a little bit crazy, dont you think?

[Natalie]

Yeah, I know Lithuania! Never been there but I know it!

I don´t think that we´re crazy because we´re only saying what our heart thinks! (we´re ´outspoken´ *giggles*) And if anybody thinks I´m crazy: It doesn´t interest me at all! :P I only speak my mind!

[jore]

This "crazy" is in good meaning(read between sentenses) :)

[Natalie]

It´s ok, don´t excuse yourself! I don´t think to be crazy has always a bad meaning... :)
By the way: Have you seen the sexy pictures of Johnny taken by... uhm... I think her name was Karen Brannen ??! If I say sexy and you know the pics you know which I mean... They´re so sexy, oh my god!!!! :P They´re posted on Johnnys´homepage, but not all!

Uhm, I´m just interested: How old are you? Male or female?

[jore]

i am 18 and female:),and you?
i think i saw it. If it's that you have in your mind i agree, he is so sexy and his body is so uhhh:)I can't take my eyes off of him..And his smile...:)you know where can i see more (than his homepage) photo of Johnny?

[rob]

interesting !

[Natalie]

Rob: Interesting? The pics or our conversation? *smile*

I´m a little bit older, I´m 20... :)

I think we know which pics we mean... :D I mean I don´t know more photos on which Johnny is half-naked!! (Except the one on which he´s leaning against a wall wearing only a pair of jeans!) :))
Uhm, as I can remember my crazed mind I searched with "Google". You can click on "pictures" and type in his name - then you get more of these pics than only the ones on his page... I think there are about five more of these photos to find! I think there were only 3 of the photos on his page, am I right? These pics, but I don´t exactly remember which ones, can also be found on
www.justbegay.de/people/weir/01.html
I have 8 different pics altogether!

Greetings!!

By the way: I also LOVE to see Stéphane Lambiel (he´s so cute!!!) and Evgeni Plushenko skating.. What about you?

[Natalie]

Uhm, I asked myself if you found it!?

[jore]

oh, i was on a trek this week so couldn't write to you!:)
yeah, i sow all those photos of johnny, he's cute:))

i don't know why, but i don't like stephan.I admit he's dancing fantastic and his spins are supernal, but something is i don't like...
evgenij is talent, like an other russian dancer yagudin (he is genius!!!), but i think in torino plushenko lost his sence of dance and music, which is the most important, he wasn't so wonderful that he can, but i hope he will repair:)

[Natalie]

Hmm, I like Stéphane´s way of skating and I think he´s really gorgeous!!! :) ...and he seems to be very kind and loving! As I said I love his way of skating and it´s outrageous how he does his spins, but that isn´t the only thing I love about him! It´s the whole opposite of Johnnys´way of skating, Johnny is very, uhm, I think balletic (I love it!!!) is the right describtion for Johnny, Stéph is more the athletic one! I don´t think about Evgeni in Torino the way you do! I think he was fantastic, but in another way you´re right, I think he didn´t show all of his ability - I´ve seen programs where he was more than he was in Torino - but I think he just knew that he would do it, although Stéph was very very outrageous too!! I think Evgeni was a little bit like "Hmm, it´s like holiday, I don´t have to do hard work!" HAHA, it´s not meant rude!!! :D I know that Evgeni has had big problems with his ledge! Poor guy, I think he has problems still and I think that´s one of the reasons why he wasn´t competing in Calgary!
By the way I can´t watch to Johnnys´long program of Calgary because it´s hurting me so much how he falls... :'( It´s the way he looks, it seems like he had thought to give up and just staying lying on the ice!! It seemed like hours for me until he got up again although it had only been a few seconds! Poor baby!!!
I think I´ve talked too much already - aren´t you sleeping now? :O) Sorry for that, watched a video of a performance of Johnny and then I gotta talk and talk and don´t stop! ;)
Many greetings, have a nice easter! ^^

[jore]

A good Easter you too:)

it's alright, you can talk how much you want, i like reading:)

[Swanlake]

Someone can help me! I don't understand all, I'm french and have some problem to understand! Someone can write me what Johnny says, please!!!!!!!!!!

[jacky]

johnny is the best figure skater EVER! US skaters are so boring like yeah i did this good blah blah! and johnny weir is hilarious!

the malcontent video was the dumbest thing ever!

[blue]

It's about time that we stop drawing lines and categorizing people: gay, bi, straight, woman, or man...it's not necessary, and often the line is not clear. We don't need to belong to a group. Johnny is a talented and charming person. I like his free spirit, and I love him the way he is.

[Mister]

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