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The gay Olympian said the only way he would speak with Pence is on behalf of people he's harmed through his anti-LGBT stances.Â
Adam Rippon, America's sweetheart since the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, appeared on Ellen DeGeneres's show for the first time on Thursday, and it was a mutual lovefest that also took aim at Mike Pence and his dangerous, prehistoric views about LGBT people.
Rippon, a figure skater who turned in several flawless performances for Team USA at the Olympics, had refused a phone call with Pence based on the vice president's views on conversion therapy and anti-LGBT legislation he's pushed as a congressman, as governor of Indiana, and in the White House.
Although the Olympics are over, Rippon is still not interested in speaking with Pence, he told DeGeneres.
"I'm an openly gay man competing at the Olympics, and somebody who thinks that gay people might be the societal collapse of our nation, I didn't feel like it was the right time," Rippon said. "If I had the chance to have a call with him now, I have nothing to say to Mike Pence. That's not a conversation for me."
He did say, though, that because he was afforded a voice to represent marginalized people, he would possibly take a call on behalf of the people Pence has harmed through anti-LGBT legislation.
"I think going to the Olympics, it's given me a really great platform to give a voice to people who feel like they don't have one, so if that call were to happen, I would say, 'It's not for me. It's for those people who their lives have been affected by legislation that he's pushed,'" Rippon said. "It's a chance for them to share their stories and their experiences. It's not for me."
Beyond that, Rippon chatted with DeGeneres about his newly launched campaign with GLAAD to raise money for LGBT youth.
On a lighter note, Rippon also revealed his celebrity crushes.
