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Cracks in the Ice

Update: Extrovert US skater Johnny Weir is likened to "a bit of brokeback" by Eddie McGuire & Mick Molloy, while international media begins to pick up on the story.

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On Wednesday I watched the Men’s Figure Skating Short Programme on Foxtel. It was a world class event brimming with talent, and as the commentator observed, impossible to separate the top bunch.

One of the best athletes was US skater Johnny Weir, who I learned was one of the more colourful personalities in the finals. The extrovert Weir had already received death threats due to wanting to wear fox fur as part of his outfit. He decided against it. But he certainly put on quite a show, wowing the crowd with a theatrical performance and finishing sixth for his efforts.

He wasn’t the only showstopper. Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi put on such a performance he was likened to Michael Jackson by one commentator, while another was referred to as a “man’s man” amongst figure skaters.

Fortunately I didn’t have to hear the humour that Nine wheeled out later that night in its highlights package between Mick Molloy and Eddie McGuire. But by the sounds of things I missed quite a performance.

Yesterday Crikey ran a story on their chat which it quoted via this transcript:

EDDIE MCGUIRE: …what about the fashion at the ice skating?
…
MICK MOLLOY: They don’t leave anything in the locker room those blokes.
EDDIE: They leave nothing…
MICK: When they get out there…
EDDIE: They don’t leave anything in the closet either do they? [Laughs].
MICK: They [laughs], well they — careful you’ll get yourself into trouble there…
EDDIE: Sorry mate.

and

MICK: Look at this guy, it was like one of those fake tuxedos that you — even Prince saw that and went, oh hang on, you can’t go out wearing that. Oh look out, the hay seed look’s in this year. What is that?
EDDIE: A bit of broke back?
MICK: A bit of Brokeback Mountain exercise. You can’t wear it. They’re very flamboyant, they love a bit of colour as we said.

It’s now become a bit of a wildfire story, and it isn’t hard to see why. Out of context it’s hard to defend. In context it really isn’t any easier.

Several readers yesterday commented to TV Tonight that there were ‘homophobic’ comments in Nine’s coverage:

– “Their continual homophobic inuendo has convinced me to pay for the Foxtel coverage.. Seriously these two clowns should be barred off television.”
– “Unfortunately Mick Malloy had to waste time making homophobic comments last night and waste more time apologising for the same style of commentary on the previous night.”
– “They should call nines coverage of the Olympics, ‘The Footy Show on Ice’ disgusting appalling, sexist, homophobic, uneducated, uninformed.”
– “Just when Nine’s Olympic coverage couldn’t get even more terrible, now Eddie and Mick Molloy made gay jokes at a male figure skaters routine. Homophobia still alive and well at Nine.”

It has since been picked up by other media including News Ltd newspapers and gay press, as well as attracting fiery comment online. On the back of Nine’s NRL Footy Show comments being accused of vilification the timing is unfortunate. Of course rarely are such issues so black and white -Nine is also airing Dante’s Cove, showing no signs of any issue with sexuality.

Meanwhile, McGuire has already attracted criticism for his interview with Australian Silver medallist Dale Begg-Smith in which he appeared to prod the athlete into saying he was robbed of Gold.

Molloy and McGuire didn’t mention the Weir controversy last night during the Vancouver highlights package. Molloy is now travelling back to Australia to fulfill earlier commitments, which were in place before being booked by Nine.

TV Tonight contacted Nine over the issue which advised that there had been no complaints received prior to the Crikey article, which it declined to respond to.

Johnny Weir and the other amazing skaters take to the ice today for the Gold Medal in their event.

It should be quite a show, costume and all.

UPDATE:  The comments are now being picked up by overseas media including NBC Philadelphia, The Sun, Digital Spy.

Source: Crikey,

102 Responses

  1. As a gay woman, lebian, dyke whatever, my partner and I watch that segment and laughed ourselves silly. I guess we have thicker skin but I did say at the time they are gonna get into trouble for this. Johnny is flamboyant and like many of my male “girlfriends” they revel in the attention and bathe in controversy and shock. It’s humour and not scripted and I appreciate that for what it is. Better than PC read off the cue card wooden commentary. And no, I do Not like Sam Newman either. There is a difference between offensive hatred poison and good natured bantering about an obvious individual. If he had of been str8 with a big nose they would have been joking about the big nose. See the trees for the forrest and don’t analyse the hell out of everything. Go Pies!!!

  2. It was just a joke and it didnt bother me, but having said that, gay or straight, those male figure skaters are spectacular and the real disappointment for me is that nine doesnt show more coverage of the event (I saw 4 performances of the lot). I tuned in to watch actual Sport, not Eddie and Mick bantering half the night.

  3. I have not watched the footage so I am only going by what I’ve read here…
    Firstly, from what I gather, skater Johnny Weir is an extroverted, flamboyant character who likes to be out there and attract attention. Surely he himself is aware that his costume is very camp and that is its purpose! He opens himself up to critique in the same way that Rove, Eddie or Molloy do whenever they appear in the media. And no one seems to feel guilty about having a go about them, and being much more harsh and hurtful about it.
    Secondly, poking fun and judging people’s fashion choices is nothing new to the media. It happens all the time with all sorts of people, ie. award ceremonies, sporting events, Lady Gaga… we can’t have double standards here.
    All I’m asking is that people consider the big picture before they use terms like “homophobia”. I find incorrect use of this term to be just as offensive.

  4. I missed the comments as I have only watched Foxtels coverage, which has been wonderful. The hosts have been professional and work well with one another (Its also good to see Tracey Holmes back on TV). I cant image these comments been made on Foxtel or even Ch7.

    I know Ch7 coverage isn’t perfect, but are far more professonal then anything Ch9 dishes out.

    On the comentators, they only decent commentators have been Phil Leggart, the snowboarding commentator (not JB) and both long track speed skating commentator.

  5. Eddie McGuire is really copping it from all sides today, and rightly so. Let’s not forget he is the product of the testosterone soaked Nine Network, that male gym locker that has the gall to masquerade as a TV network. I think being sexist, puerile and homophobic is part of the job description for anybody seeking employment at the Nine Network.

  7. Roy and HG’s “Hello Boys” comment was pretty much used with all male gymnasts, not just the flamboyant ones. I tend to think if they had seen Johnny Weir’s performance they would have been praising it with lots of superlatives, including for the costumery. It’s all about context.

  10. As vrom’s post implies quality of coverage and preference for hosts are two seperate arguements. It’s a little strange to indict tens of hours of coverage on the basis of one host. I also think it’s opportunistic to link these remarks to a sketch performed on the NRL Footy Show, some time ago, by a performer now employed by channel 7.

  13. I watched the segment and was not impressed with the language. But it then it also continued into the next segment. Molloy was playing Icehockey with kids – and an observer was screaming obviously scripted insults at him to goad him- including calling him a “poof”.
    I thought we’d grown up beyond this sort of stupid stuff – especially on tv by grown men.

  14. That is very poor taste from Channel Nine’s commentators. I didn’t see the offense being committed but why do these idiots at Nine think it’s funny to make stupid comments like that? I would have expected more from Eddie (not sure who this Molly bloke is but I’ll google him anyway), but then again he works for Channel Nine, so obviously not.

  15. I think McGuire & Molloy are trying for a bit of the Roy & HG style humour. Trouble is, they don’t have the wit or intelligence to carry it off. Bring back The Ice Dream!!

  16. apart from being offensive it is also just so childish and unintelligent, you would expect the commentators to talk about the talent of the athletes not say they look gay.

  18. @newtaste

    Wow, just three comments in and already an attempt to derail the topic. When Christians are systemically ridiculed, persecuted and oppressed then you may have a point, but as we stand, it’s Not an even playing field. (and I won’t bother delving into the fact that religion is a lifestyle choice whereas sexuality is not)

    Also, if you are heterosexual, who are you to say what gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans should find offensive or not?

    If you’re gay and didn’t find it offensive, good for you; but not every gay has the privilege of living an out and open life without facing severe persecution from the community.

  19. *shakes head*

    I miss Bruce. There is no doubt Bruce is one of the best when covering the Olympics along with Phil Liggitt.

    Nine’s coverage has been fantastic, far better than Seven’s. But its just Eddie’s hosting that is really giving the whole coverage a bad name. And after these comments, I really am not looking forward to his commentary of the Aerial Skiing.

  21. I’m a gay…… Ive heard alot worse in my time…… especially from david Koch……. no network is immune from making gay jokes. bad taste, yeah…… but i say straight jokes all the time…… who cares. I think Eddie and Mick Molloy are just bad comedians….. not homophobes.

    And, i do have to commend Nine on their day programming….. and really enjoying seeing cam Williams and Leila McKinnon there….. but the Foxtel coverage would be awesome if i understood what Ruby Rose had anything to do with it

  22. I hope Nine screens Blades of Glory before the men’s figure skating finals, that would absolutely be a hoot!! Eddie and Mick’s comments were hilarious, more please!!

  23. Lighten up! I am gay and thought it was hilarious. Everyone is thinking it, they just said it. Keep it up nine. I think humour is the best way to make these olympics mildly interesting

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