The Dance Hall 13: When You Dance on the Ice and Your Feet Twizzle Twice, That's Amore

[Former Lurve Goddess]

I'm hardly his fan, but while I also don't think he is necessarily the main character (or at least the main topic) in the book, the publishers did choose to promote the book using solely stories about him, and they also consciously chose this very specific timing to do so. Regardless of the truth behind those stories (I think, like others, that they each experienced the situation in an individual way that differs), I can understand why he feels so attacked (especially since the story about him trying to stop her from pressing charges against her alleged rapist is very damming for him).

The publisher is likely not responsible for the media stories focusing on Cizeron. Media outlets would have received advance copies of the book and a press release from the book's publicity and marketing team. The outlets would then haven chose which parts to highlight to get the most engagement/clicks. Now as the book was timed to come out during Euros, it's likely that the publicity team sent the advance copies with specific sales/marketing points which likely included mentions of Cizeron but I really doubt those were the main points.

 

[chantilly]

I agree with both post above. But I will reiterate the title of her book is "So as not to disappear."
I'm sure there are personal
Stories in the book, but I guarantee a bulk of that book will
Be about skating, Guillaume, IAM, and her coaches.

Yes the media may have cherry picked the most salacious stories, but the publishers chose now to promote the book.

Savvy and smart, but still knowing full well it was going to cause a s&&tstorm for Guillaume and IAM.

 

[Rukia]

Or the publishers picked a time right before the Olympics because that's a good time to promote an Olympic champion's book and they didn't even consider Guillaume because they are book publishers

 

[Orm Irian]

Or the publishers picked a time right before the Olympics because that's a good time to promote an Olympic champion's book and they didn't even consider Guillaume because they are book publishers

Exactly. They care about selling the book, and about promoting Gabriella as their client. Guillaume has no relationship with them and they have no obligation to take him or his schedule into account when doing their job.

And I'll also point out that likewise, now that they no longer work together, Gabrielle has no further obligation to take him or his schedule into account as she pursues her new career. Her book's being published at the best time for the book, which is how it should be.

 

[angi]

Exactly. They care about selling the book, and about promoting Gabriella as their client. Guillaume has no relationship with them and they have no obligation to take him or his schedule into account when doing their job.

And I'll also point out that likewise, now that they no longer work together, Gabrielle has no further obligation to take him or his schedule into account as she pursues her new career. Her book's being published at the best time for the book, which is how it should be.

I 100% agree about this part, I don't think Gabi has any responsibility here. I do, however, think it's naive to assume that the publisher had no impact on how the book is promoted or didn't also choose this timing because it will bring more attention to the book due to the (unfortunately for everyone involved) explosive nature of the stories. It doesn't mean that the publisher is also not within its right to do so, but I don't think anyone should be surprised by Cizeron's response (I doubt they didn't anticipate it).

 

[kwanfan1818]

This book has been in the works for long before Cizeron announced a return to skating: it was before Sorensen was suspended, and when FB/S were expected to be going to the Olympics together. If he took time out from staring at himself in the mirror, he would have known about the book before he launched his current partnership. It feels like she's been talking about it forever.

What publisher wouldn't plan a book about a participant in a niche sport to be timed with the event where there was the most exposure for said niche sport?

 

[kwanfan1818]

Double post, because it just occurred to me that he might have thought that her writing may have been so intellectual and abstract that many would have put it down with a yawn or not bought it at all, and he could have an insider laugh to himself. Until recently, that’s what the book sounded like.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

To lighten the mood, I saw this on a parody x skating account.

The theme for the Rhythm Dance in the 2026/27 season has been announced as “White Noise - The Feeling of TV Static”. The Pattern Dance Type Step Sequence will be replaced with the Choreo Standing Movement (ChSM), with a base value of 7.50 points.

With the Heated Rivalry soundtrack releasing this week, my viral-bait suggestion for next year RD is music from skating or hockey tv and movie soundtracks. Blades of Glory, Heated Rivalry, Cutting Edge and I, Tonya programs here we come!

 

[marbri]

This book has been in the works for long before Cizeron announced a return to skating: it was before Sorensen was suspended, and when FB/S were expected to be going to the Olympics together. If he took time out from staring at himself in the mirror, he would have known about the book before he launched his current partnership. It feels like she's been talking about it forever.

What publisher wouldn't plan a book about a participant in a niche sport to be timed with the event where there was the most exposure for said niche sport?

Do you know this to be fact or are you just guessing?

 

[SidelineSkater]

With the Heated Rivalry soundtrack releasing this week, my viral-bait suggestion for next year RD is music from skating or hockey tv and movie soundtracks. Blades of Glory, Heated Rivalry, Cutting Edge and I, Tonya programs here we come!

I love that idea! Couldn't be worse than the last few seasons, just don't make it a slow, dirge tempo requirement. Although I'm sure some of the more conservative folks would be freaked out by anything related to Heated Rivalry. They already have their unders in a twist about same-gender skating.

 

[thvu]

The timing has less to do with any of the people included in her memoir and more to do with the fact that it's Euros week in an Olympic year - the public's eyes are on figure skating naturally.

Nothing is done in a vacuum. That her former partner is still competing and is in competition for an OGM is also part of their calculus. It’s clear in the excerpts they’re choosing to release.

It’s obvious they want the controversy and hope it translates into sales.

 

[deegee]

Nothing is done in a vacuum. That her former partner is still competing and is in competition for an OGM is also part of their calculus. It’s clear in the excerpts they’re choosing to release.

It’s obvious they want the controversy and hope it translates into sales.

well this could be one of those times when a controversy bolsters some redress for something much bigger than an olympic medal or book sales

 

[Karen-W]

Nothing is done in a vacuum. That her former partner is still competing and is in competition for an OGM is also part of their calculus. It’s clear in the excerpts they’re choosing to release.

It’s obvious they want the controversy and hope it translates into sales.

I mean, if that's what you want to believe. The point is that the book deal was signed a long time ago, before Cizeron partnered with Fournier-Beaudry, so the arrogant statement from him that this is a deliberate smear campaign on Papadakis and her publisher's part timed to derail his quest for a 2nd Olympic gold is inaccurate.

 

[thvu]

well this could be one of those times when a controversy bolsters some redress for something much bigger than an olympic medal or book sales

I’m just talking about the publisher. Their business motivations are common sense and exactly what any publisher would do.

I don’t know Papadakis and can’t speak at all to her motivations, nor do I question them.

 

[angi]

I mean, if that's what you want to believe. The point is that the book deal was signed a long time ago, before Cizeron partnered with Fournier-Beaudry, so the arrogant statement from him that this is a deliberate smear campaign on Papadakis and her publisher's part timed to derail his quest for a 2nd Olympic gold is inaccurate.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that Gabi came up with an evil masterplan to take down Guillermo the moment she thought about writing her own story, and that this is some kind of a hit piece. And as mentioned before, Gabi owes him nothing, and she has every right to write her story and publish it.
But at the same time, as @thvu mentioned, nothing about the timing or the excerpts that are being shared feels coincidental, and it does appear to be aimed at boosting sales (a legitimate if slightly unethical business method).

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Nothing is done in a vacuum. That her former partner is still competing and is in competition for an OGM is also part of their calculus. It’s clear in the excerpts they’re choosing to release.

It’s obvious they want the controversy and hope it translates into sales.

As I said on another thread, Papadakis's publisher is barely promoting the book on their social media. They're too busy marketing the French translation of Margaret Atwood's book. I suspect that they expected Gabi's book to have a very modest sales and a niche audience. Releasing a memoir by an OGM just before the Olympics just makes sense, as January is otherwise a very bad time to release a book. I really doubt that Cizeron figured much into the equation at all.