The Stars on Ice skating tour has officially denied that perceived sexual orientation played a role in its decision to not invite two-time Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir to be a part of the show. Previous reports indicated that Weir was excluded from the tour because he is "not family friendly."
"We are disappointed that there is untrue and inaccurate information being disseminated," the tour wrote in a statement. "Please be assured that the `gender identity and sexual orientation' of cast members has never been a consideration in the selection of tour performers."
While Stars on Ice insists that Weir's perceived sexual orientation was not a part of its decision-making process, the three-time national champion disagrees. He told GLAAD that "it's for real," adding:
"I've never been invited to do 'Stars on Ice' before, which is the only figure skating tour in the U.S. It's disappointing that I can't perform for my American fans... all because I'm not 'family friendly' enough."
As GLAAD noted last week, such a reason for excluding Weir "would be a clear jab at his perceived sexual orientation" and is especially outrageous because "he is putting his younger brother through college, and supports the family financially because his father's disability prohibits him from working."
Still, Weir is not letting the non-invite get to him. He plans a "crazy, over-the-top fantasy show" that "could be really incredible and something for everyone."