Johnny Weir Says He's Been Bullied; Called Ma'am Four Times A Day
PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 19, 2010
In noting that he's been bullied all his life, figure skater John G. “Johnny”
Weir gave the example that he was called ma'am four times in one day.
Weir gave the example that he was called ma'am four times in one day.
The 3-time U.S. National Figure Skating champion with a knack for
drawing attention to himself guest starred Monday on CBC Television's
Battle of the Blades, the live show that pairs former NHL players with
female figure skaters in an ice skating version of Dancing with the Stars.
drawing attention to himself guest starred Monday on CBC Television's
Battle of the Blades, the live show that pairs former NHL players with
female figure skaters in an ice skating version of Dancing with the Stars.
In an interview conducted before the show with EyeWeekly.com, Weir
discussed the recent rash of gay teens bullied to death.
discussed the recent rash of gay teens bullied to death.
“It's not an easy road,” Weir said, referring to being different. “I've been
bullied nearly every day of my life. Today, how many times was I called
ma'am today? I think four times today. Or, you know, constantly being
called 'faggot' in school. It's awful.”
bullied nearly every day of my life. Today, how many times was I called
ma'am today? I think four times today. Or, you know, constantly being
called 'faggot' in school. It's awful.”
“It's so distressing to see what's actually happening with these kids that
feel so alone and so weak and it's so sad and I mean, I can relate in a
way that I've been bullied.”
feel so alone and so weak and it's so sad and I mean, I can relate in a
way that I've been bullied.”
“But suicide is never the answer. If you want to send a message, live. And
live the way that you want to live. And let that be your statement to the
world. You have to be strong. Suicide is an easy way out of a problem.”
live the way that you want to live. And let that be your statement to the
world. You have to be strong. Suicide is an easy way out of a problem.”
Estrellita, Weir explained without prompting, was a woman who mistook
him for a lady.
him for a lady.
“Oh, Estrellita was this lady who told me I was going into the wrong
bathroom, the mens bathroom. It was a sixty-year-old – had to be sixty,
unless she was really not aging well – a sixty-something Mexican lady
yelling at me 'No, no, no!' So, literally, I had to point down and
say 'hombre.'”
bathroom, the mens bathroom. It was a sixty-year-old – had to be sixty,
unless she was really not aging well – a sixty-something Mexican lady
yelling at me 'No, no, no!' So, literally, I had to point down and
say 'hombre.'”
Weir has previously said he'll address the issue of his sexuality in a
yet-to-be-published memoir.
yet-to-be-published memoir.
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