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When someone as proudly flamboyant as Weir headlines a network's Olympics coverage, feathers are bound to be ruffled.
After skating in the 2010 Winter Olympics, Johnny Weir has made his way back to the world's most competitive arena, but this time its for what he can do with his voice rather than his body. As a commentator on NBC during their 2018 Olympics coverage, he's drawing almost more attention than the competitors.
\u201cJohnny Weir and Tara Lipinski have bedazzled headsets and matching microphones, are coordinating outfits every day and are working a Hunger Games theme. I'm gonna need them to do commentary on EVERYTHING including the stock market from now on.\u201d— Amee-Hakeem Jeffries is the man-Vanderpool (@Amee-Hakeem Jeffries is the man-Vanderpool) 1518402514
Adorning high fashion, gender non-comforming outfits at the events and unapologetically criticizing the performances in South Korea, Weir has come under fire for being too flamboyant. Many have criticized the out commentator for being too harsh and attention seeking, even stooping to homophobic tweets to bring Weir down.
\u201cPlease @NBCOlympics I beg of you! #JohnnyWeir is the worst commentator ever actually listening to #TaraLipinski & #JohnnyWeir is like listening to hummingbirds around a flower \ud83d\ude44\ud83d\ude44\ud83d\ude44\u201d— Kristy Swanson (@Kristy Swanson) 1518322201
\u201cIt is sad but true that 8 out of 10 solo male figure skaters are faggots and we have to be subjected to one of the worst...Johnny Weir who should be called effin weird. they should never have used a fag for a commentator. Go back to the closet and lock the door behind you.\u201d— DAVID CANTELLO (@DAVID CANTELLO) 1518287244
However, Weir refuses to be stopped, and many are thrilled by his persistence to be himself when it comes to clothes and commentaries.
Most fans are standing with Weir, loving how his strong personality is spicing the games up.
\u201c@JohnnyGWeir Is there any way to have #JohnnyWeir & #TaraLipinski to commentate @PressSec briefings? \n\n\u201cThat\u2019s a devastating answer to give. She stepped on the message there. Terrible.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, Johnny, the grammar was technically flawed and she lied three times.\u201d\u201d— Johnny Wright \ud83e\udd18\ud83c\udffb\ud83e\udd69\ud83e\udd43 (@Johnny Wright \ud83e\udd18\ud83c\udffb\ud83e\udd69\ud83e\udd43) 1518267222
\u201c@JohnnyGWeir wait. so people don't want insightful and accurately critical commentary with a flair of personality? i want the johnnys and taras for all of the sports.\u201d— nic (@nic) 1518284668
\u201c@JohnnyGWeir wait. so people don't want insightful and accurately critical commentary with a flair of personality? i want the johnnys and taras for all of the sports.\u201d— nic (@nic) 1518284668
\u201c@JohnnyGWeir I, for one, appreciate your point of honesty. Everyone's a critic, and if you gushed and brushed over errors, you'd be accused of falling into the, "everyone gets a trophy" mentality. Well, everyone doesn't get a trophy, or gold medal. There's only one and its for the best.\u201d— MrsGoodBoyPants (@MrsGoodBoyPants) 1518270936
\u201c@JohnnyGWeir Why are you even explaining this? You\u2019ve been commenting on ice skating for how long now? You must be doing something right, you keep getting hired back! Just do what you do, and how you do it. \ud83c\uddf0\ud83c\uddf7\ud83e\udd47\ud83e\udd48\ud83e\udd49\u26f8\u201d— Elizabeth (@Elizabeth) 1518275405
\u201c@JohnnyGWeir Some people can be cry babies so they need to put their violins down already. Johnny's commentary is spot on and that's because he's a pro. NBC wouldn't hire Johnny if he wasn't unique and entertaining, so they are very lucky to have him. He shouldn't change one damn thing.\u201d— Leigh Rush Olson (@Leigh Rush Olson) 1518291154
Love him or hate him, the skater has drawn more attention than ever, performing on Lip Sync Battle and breaking more gender boundaries than ever before -- with the help of a little Lady Gaga and Celine Dion.
\u201cWeir and Lipinski do lip sync battle...screaming. https://t.co/jTBK9zQkj8\u201d— Far D (@Far D) 1518414483
