Eric Radford and Vanessa James to compete in pairs together for Canada

[tony]

Morgan Cipres literally had the audacity to wish the new pair well on Instagram.

Sorry, but I literally don’t understand what the problem is with this. Cipres’ actions are what equally put a halt to James’ career, and now she’s back and he wishes her well. They were all athletes that knew each other.

You know, there are people that have done worse than what Cipres did who are actually still working in skating.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

CBC Sports article by Jacqueline Doorey: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/figureskating/eric-radford-vanessa-james-return-1.5995937

Practice clip montage (scroll down here): https://twitter.com/CBCOlympics/status/1384874647670468610

ETA to add link to watch That Figure Skating Show hosts Dylan Moscovitch and Asher Hill chat with James and Radford about their return to competition as a team: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlkasD1KYC0

Oh My goshhhhhhhh those lines!!!! Cain & Leduc Realness!!!!

Their throw jump looks effortless. Absolutely effortless!!!!

 

[VGThuy]

Sorry, but I literally don’t understand what the problem is with this. Cipres’ actions are what equally put a halt to James’ career, and now she’s back and he wishes her well. They were all athletes that knew each other.

You know, there are people that have done worse than what Cipres did who are actually still working in skating.

With all due respect, that doesn't mean people aren't allowed to be angry about what he did and the way he's carrying himself. You may not see it as a big deal, but it's subjective and some people really do find what he did to be appalling and absolutely disgusting. Further, not everyone is as aware of what "other people who are actually still working in skating" have done or they aren't aware of any continued social media posts they're making.

 

[MsZem]

Sorry, but I literally don’t understand what the problem is with this. Cipres’ actions are what equally put a halt to James’ career, and now she’s back and he wishes her well. They were all athletes that knew each other.

Sometimes private messaging is the way to go

You know, there are people that have done worse than what Cipres did who are actually still working in skating.

Unfortunately.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

If you do a bit of searching around here, you'll see that Meagan's not happy about this new pairing.

Holy crap really? I always wonder about when they skate after they retire now will Eric skate with Vanessa for any type of exhibitions or shows in the future? Like I wonder about Robin and will he never do a show again since Alyona went to Bruno?

Nothing major but I do sometimes think about that

 

[tony]

With all due respect, that doesn't mean people aren't allowed to be angry about what he did and the way he's carrying himself. You may not see it as a big deal, but it's subjective and some people really do find what he did to be appalling and absolutely disgusting. Further, not everyone is as aware of what "other people who are actually still working in skating" have done or they aren't aware of any continued social media posts they're making.

They can be angry and they can think it was the worst thing in the world, but saying he ‘literally had the audacity’ to wish her well (something positive when her career was abruptly stopped) is kinda ? He’s still on social media, he’s still liking a lot of skating-related stuff and encouraging many skaters from what I see. There’s always the option of blocking said people so you don’t have to see their activity IMO.

And I think many people have forgotten about Staviyski’s incident, first and foremost.

 

[allezfred]

Meagan has released a statement:

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[VGThuy]

They can be angry and they can think it was the worst thing in the world, but saying he ‘literally had the audacity’ to wish her well (something positive when her career was abruptly stopped) is kinda ? He’s still on social media, he’s still liking a lot of skating-related stuff and encouraging many skaters from what I see. There’s always the option of blocking said people so you don’t have to see their activity IMO.

And I think many people have forgotten about Staviyski’s incident, first and foremost.

Well first off, Staviyski's incident happened about 12 years ago. Many skating fans, and most of whom who are engaged on social media, were only more-or-less 10 years old when that happened. They don't have any idea. I myself was a big fan of his BUT I have no idea what he's done or what's been doing in the past decade or so. I may have commented on his participation in some cheesy skating with celebrity show and said he was still porny, but that was also a long time ago. I probably wouldn't be commenting as much now that I'm older and think drunk driving is more important than I did when I was more careless and younger. Still, I never have come across any of his postings or his actions for me to react.

Secondly, I don't care if he's still on IG. If I see him post, I will still be disgusted because he sent a dick pick to a 13-year-old girl. I don't care if she was asking for it for whatever. She's 13. This is how sexual grooming happens. And unlike Staviyski, Cipres is currently evading criminal prosecution and the criminal justice system where the incident took place. Whatever you feel of the outcome or the fairness of what happened, at least Staviyski turned himself in, confronted his charges, and paid whatever the court systems felt was right for his actions. Sure I could block him so I don't have to see it, but the point remains is that he's living his life free from facing the consequences of his actions, and that's totally disgusting.

 

[litenkyckling]

If you do a bit of searching around here, you'll see that Meagan's not happy about this new pairing.

I would say it's more that she isn't happy with how she was told about it.

It seems like they've managed to upset everyone in Skate Canada pairs by the way they chose to go about this. There is a way to tell people potentially upsetting news whilst still having respect and decency for them.

 

[MsZem]

Meagan has released a statement:

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Show/professional opportunities just aren't there at the moment due to the CV situation. Who knows when those might open up again. I really don't see how Radford can be blamed for seeking a different path, especially given such an amazing opportunity.

If he didn't even talk to her beforehand, that's not nice. But I honestly don't get what Duhamel is trying to accomplish with this statement.

 

[tony]

Meagan has released a statement:

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One thing I hadn’t even thought about is how she did indeed skate in tours with Eric while she was pregnant.

I figured she didn’t have any idea this was transpiring so seriously, and it sounds like she also found out only after Vanessa got her release which would mean they were already behind the scenes trying to make it happen.

I can’t say I wouldn’t be bitter or upset about it after reading that. But life will go on eventually.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Meagan has released a statement:

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OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!

She let us have it!!!!! Lol

And that is exactly why I asked a few posts above about situations like this for when they do shows and promotions as professionals or in their professional career. Missed opportunities to skate and earn money maybe for Robin and Megan and others when that happens. I was just curious as to that aspect of this

 

[VGThuy]

Meagan has released a statement:

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I'm sorry but Radford hasn't done anything to breach any "verbal" agreement they once had. Skate in shows "as long as possible" is very vague. Unless they were signed up to some actual shows and he breached the agreement by canceling on them to skate with James competitively, he didn't do anything wrong. Now, Meagan probably felt like she and Radford had each other forever, and he would be available when she would be, but that's not how life works. This is why partnerships need a contract with explicit unambiguous terms.

I'm sure Radford could have been much better at communicating his intentions to Meagan and she wouldn't have felt so blindsided, but we haven't heard his side of the story. I could see him not being the most considerate person regarding this situation. Not because of anything about his personality but just that sometimes people can not be the most considerate to others especially when they've moved on to something they're excited about. However, he was under no obligation to keep skating with Meagan forever and keep himself available to their partnership if opportunities may have arisen.

And nothing is preventing him from doing shows with her AFTER the Olympic season is over other than the fact that she senses he rather do shows with Vanessa than her. That is probably what is hurting her the most.

 

[Lemonade20]

Meagan has released a statement:

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The shade!!

 

[BlueRidge]

I'd be more sympathetic to Meagan if she weren't putting this up on social media.

I'm old. I know.

 

[PRlady]

As a fan of both Vanessa AND Meagan I'm sorry about the fallout. But I'm really not sorry to see these team pair up, my Canadian-pair hopes were for Dylan and Lubov and then Lubov and Charlie and nothing worked out. But clearly Canadian pair-girls do not keep their thoughts to themselves, nor should they. Eric and Vanessa have a right to skate together and Meagan has a right not to like it.

 

[Lemonade20]

Show/professional opportunities just aren't there at the moment due to the CV situation. Who knows when those might open up again. I really don't see how Radford can be blamed for seeking a different path, especially given such an amazing opportunity.

If he didn't even talk to her beforehand, that's not nice. But I honestly don't get what Duhamel is trying to accomplish with this statement.

Agreed, it shows exactly why Eric didn't reach out about competing with her again. It's sad when you lose your partner, but at the same time, throwing shade like this only makes her look worse.

 

[tony]

I also have to say it’s somewhat interesting that this has happened with Charlie Bilodeau twice, and he came out almost unanimously as the villain both times. I don’t know of anyone who really supported him, actually. I also don’t remember anyone shaming Lubov for making the comments she did to IFS or whichever other media outlets to share her side of the story.

You could say the difference was that Meagan and Eric were not skating competitively in the moment and that CV stopped tours, but the act of deciding things before informing the partner remains the same here, at least from what Duhamel has posted. But again, even Lubov cleared up that Bilodeau went behind the scenes way prior to letting her know.

So is the difference here okay because of CV making things unpredictable? Or maybe people just don’t like Duhamel’s skating ?

 

[VGThuy]

I think the difference was that Julianne and Lubov already had plans to compete and had costumes and other things made. Both partners had the entire competitive season planned out and Charlie led both of them on to think he was still intentionally competing with her. There's a major difference between that situation and this one. For one, we all know what a competitive season looks like. It's set, it's scheduled years ahead of time, and there are competitions one does.

Here, there were no open or active working schedule Duhamel and Radford were on. Like I said, if there were actual shows they were contracted to partake in OR if there was such thing as a professional schedule and Radford led Duhamel on only to blindside her with the James partnership, then I'd find him totally at fault. There are no shows, months have passed up, and Radford found an opportunity to compete with another partner. He could have been more considerate, but we know Duhamel was not planning on competing again nor did she make plans or prepare for a competitive season only to be left high and dry. She was at home with nothing on the horizon.

 

[allezfred]

You could say the difference was that Meagan and Eric were not skating competitively in the moment

I think that is precisely the difference.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

and then Lubov and Charlie

When did they call it quits? How long were they even together for?

 

[Coco]

So maybe Duhamel's sister-in-law (?) new about this months before she did and didn't say anything? Is that part of the personal betrayal Duhamel mentioned a few days ago?

 

[BlueRidge]

As a fan of both Vanessa AND Meagan I'm sorry about the fallout. But I'm really not sorry to see these team pair up, my Canadian-pair hopes were for Dylan and Lubov and then Lubov and Charlie and nothing worked out. But clearly Canadian pair-girls do not keep their thoughts to themselves, nor should they. Eric and Vanessa have a right to skate together and Meagan has a right not to like it.

Yes she has every right to and anyone seeing how she's handling it has every right to think whatever they think etc etc.

Nonetheless she'd be more sympathetic if she didn't look like she was trying to hit back at him publicly to try to make him look bad. If he didn't take responsibility to communicate to her privately before she learned of it publicly, that doesn't mean she couldn't have stopped the cycle.

People really don't have to post on social media just because its there.

 

[Cherub721]

I also have to say it’s somewhat interesting that this has happened with Charlie Bilodeau twice, and he came out almost unanimously as the villain both times. I don’t know of anyone who really supported him, actually. I also don’t remember anyone shaming Lubov for making the comments she did to IFS or whichever other media outlets to share her side of the story.

You could say the difference was that Meagan and Eric were not skating competitively in the moment and that CV stopped tours, but the act of deciding things before informing the partner remains the same here, at least from what Duhamel has posted. But again, even Lubov cleared up that Bilodeau went behind the scenes way prior to letting her know.

So is the difference here okay because of CV making things unpredictable? Or maybe people just don’t like Duhamel’s skating ?

For me it's that they have been retired for several years now. There's no active partnership right now. It's just the idea that they would probably come together to do shows at some point in the future, not the same thing as the physical and financial investments one makes when one is competing and planning their next season. I don't think it's necessarily wrong to split a competitive partnership either, but IIRC there was some money dispute between Charlie and Liubov that made it acrimonious.

Having said that, this statement from Duhamel is better than I expected and I can understand more of her POV now.

 

[genevieve]

The shade!!

In no way is this statement shade.

Agreed, it shows exactly why Eric didn't reach out about competing with her again. It's sad when you lose your partner, but at the same time, throwing shade like this only makes her look worse.

Again, not shade. Meagan is many things, but subtle and indirect are not two of them.

 

[RoseRed]

This is all very interesting. They look good in those clips. Obviously clips are far from competition, but it's late April and the first competition they're looking at is in August, so there's time.

 

[skategal]

Sounds like Eric didn’t handle things well from a communications point of view.

He is under no obligation to continue with Meagan but he absolutely owed her a chat to tell what was happening.

Not to do that after so many years together must be terribly hurtful for Meagan.

 

[Judy]

Wow I am shocked. not taking sides here .. but he should have had the decency to tell Meaghan.

 

[tony]

I think that is precisely the difference.

For me it's that they have been retired for several years now. There's no active partnership right now. It's just the idea that they would probably come together to do shows at some point in the future, not the same thing as the physical and financial investments one makes when one is competing and planning their next season. I don't think it's necessarily wrong to split a competitive partnership either, but IIRC there was some money dispute between Charlie and Liubov that made it acrimonious.

Having said that, this statement from Duhamel is better than I expected and I can understand more of her POV now.

While I don't disagree, I just know that they were both very close all throughout their competitive days and even in their post-competitive days, so the story that Meagan has put out about not even knowing this was a serious possibility until Vanessa had taken the steps to guarantee she could skate for Canada makes it baffling that there wasn't strong communication. I mean, they were the best of friends and they won endless medals together. This wasn't a Krasnopolski situation where he gets tired after one season and just moves on, so I guess I would've expected some kind of discussions.

For me, it's a tough call. Eric can obviously do whatever he wants and he's far from the first skater to do this kind of thing behind the scenes, and it's also hard to know what exactly their fall looked like or how much they were still communicating prior to all of this circulating a few weeks ago. If they had still been talking about the potential of a tour in the fall (whether it happened with CV or not) and then she woke up with a message saying that Vanessa got a release and he was moving forward with that, then I would be a little shocked, too. And it sounds like he held off saying anything at all to her until they got official confirmation that it could happen, so what if that release didn't happen or was delayed till post-Beijing? Would he have still been planning to tour with Meagan since it wasn't a trip to the Olympics?

In regards to Charlie and Lubov, there was a money issue with the LP music but didn't he decide he was done at the end of a competitive season? They may have had verbal goals to continue to Beijing as well, but he changed his mind and didn't let her know until everything was in place. It was shortly after Worlds (that they didn't go to) where it all came out, so I don't know how invested they would've been into a new season. Certainly it stung for Lubov, and I can see why it stings for Meagan.

It's an unfortunate situation, but I'm not bothered by Meagan venting. I've grown up on people venting first through AOL away messages and then through MySpace posts and Facebook statuses, and now it's no different on Twitter and especially Instagram, where almost everyone has moved to in the younger generations.

 

[mattiecat13]

Having been long-time partners and with vague plans to do shows in the post-***** future, IMO Eric did owe Meagan a conversation regarding his decision to skate with Vanessa. That perhaps that conversation didn't happen tells me how Eric felt about his relationship/partnership with Meagan.