Cipres accused of sexual misconduct

[Viscaro]

It was Instagram though. Without getting into the very specifics of how to send pics in a private chat in that app, I’ll just say that you can’t not know who is receiving the pic.

Yes it is a very unlikely scenario that he did not know her age. That is the only defence he has though, except in France, where the “But she looked fourteen !” worked for Polanski.

 

[skategal]

The follow up emails from John/Silvia saying "You're a pretty girl and men have needs" suggest that Cipres knew who he was sending it to.

 

[Vagabond]

My general reaction to this is:

Zimmerman and Fontana are mandatory reporters under SafeSport, so if they failed to report the incident, and further pressured the young lady not to report it further, their career in the US at least is toast, as it should be.

Interestingly, Florida law on the subject is quite broad, making virtually every adult who knows of an incident of child abuse a mandatory reporter. This means that Zimmerman and Fontana could face criminal charges.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

Zimmerman and Fontana are mandatory reporters under SafeSport, so if they failed to report the incident, and further pressured the young lady not to report it further, their career in the US at least is toast, as it should be.

I hope the victim is receiving lots of support.

The tactics they are accused of using... it's all beyond disgusting. These people are parents. I can't even hope it's not true because of the facts being presented.

 

[BittyBug]

Also if it were unintentional, upon discovering the identity of the recipient, I would think he would have apologized profusely, which does not appear to have been the case.

 

[Wyliefan]

The follow up emails from John/Silvia saying "You're a pretty girl and men have needs" suggest that Cipres knew who he was sending it to.

"Needs." That's such an asinine argument anyway. But especially here. What man needs to take and send photos of his junk?

 

[firstflight]

It would depend on the other person's username, etc. if he could argue that he didn't know who it was.

Not that I believe that. But that's his only possible out.

Right, but then this most generous of possible interpretations has Morgan sending out genital pics to someone without even looking through her pics (he would then recognize her as a rinkmate). That would mean essentially that anyone can DM him- I follow him, for instance- and ask for a d*** pic and he’d just oblige.

 

[Colonel Green]

Right, but then this most generous of possible interpretations has Morgan sending out genital pics to someone without even looking through her pics (he would then recognize her as a rinkmate). That would mean essentially that anyone can DM him- I follow him, for instance- and ask for a d*** pic and he’d just oblige.

Like I said, I don't believe it, and in that scenario he looks like an utter moron at best, but I'm sure he would prefer that to people thinking he knowingly sends pictures of his penis to 13-year-olds.

 

[hanca]

That would mean essentially that anyone can DM him- I follow him, for instance- and ask for a d*** pic and he’d just oblige.

I don’t know. Why don’t you try? You may get some too...

 

[Viscaro]

Yeah I did not submit this explanation to say that it is true, but that it is his most credible defence (not the most likely scenario, I think like that the majority here that he knew who she was) and that is career is over either way.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

Right, but then this most generous of possible interpretations has Morgan sending out genital pics to someone without even looking through her pics (he would then recognize her as a rinkmate). That would mean essentially that anyone can DM him- I follow him, for instance- and ask for a d*** pic and he’d just oblige.

If his defense is "she asked for it"... God help us. Although anything is possible.

 

[allezfred]

The most generous interpretation would be that he sent a dick pic to a random stranger who DM’d him asking for one and he had no idea she was underage.

 

[MsZem]

The most generous interpretation would be that he sent a dick pic to a random stranger who DM’d him asking for one and he had no idea she was underage.

In the unlikely event that this is indeed true, the coaches involved still have no conceivable defense.

 

[mjb52]

Wow, this is the most shocking thing to come out yet. I am starting to really regret getting back into this sport at all around the 2018 Olympics. That's not even connected to the WADA thing, it is something I've been thinking about for awhile.

 

[BaileyCatts]

At risk of asking a stupid question … why are we even reading about this, or any incident, in the media (unless the victim specifically comes forward and tells her story herself, like Ashly Wagner did)? Aren't all these investigations and things regarding Safe Sport supposed to be confidential, to protect the identities of those involved who report these incidents? Because anyone involved in working or training at this rink, just by reading this article, likely has to know who this girl is, they will gossip, it will spread …. how is she being protected by blasting it all over the media?

 

[Colonel Green]

At risk of asking a stupid question … why are we even reading about this, or any incident, in the media (unless the victim specifically comes forward and tells her story herself, like Ashly Wagner did)? Aren't all these investigations and things regarding Safe Sport supposed to be confidential, to protect the identities of those involved who report these incidents? Because anyone involved in working or training at this rink, just by reading this article, likely has to know who this girl is, they will gossip, it will spread …. how is she being protected by blasting it all over the media?

The girl's parents spoke to Brennan for the article (and, among other things, showed her the messages that Cipres sent), and may indeed have taken the story to her. I imagine because they want the public to know what he and the coaches did.

 

[hanca]

Wow, this is the most shocking thing to come out yet. I am starting to really regret getting back into this sport at all around the 2018 Olympics. That's not even connected to the WADA thing, it is something I've been thinking about for awhile.

How is that the fault of the sport? If he is a sexual predator, he would be that no matter whether he skates or not. There are good and bad people in all professions, so why there shouldn’t be some good and bad people within skating community too? Would that make difference if you read exactly the same news about a sportsman from a sport you don’t follow?

 

[PRlady]

The girl's parents spoke to Brennan for the article (and, among other things, showed her the messages that Cipres sent), and may indeed have taken the story to her. I imagine because they want the public to know what he and the coaches did.

Which must have been a horrific decision for them. But if their motive was to ensure that these coaches (whose skaters have been having a great deal of international success) did not attract lots of new young students because of what seems to be awful and probably illegal conduct, then that's a worthy motive.

 

[firstflight]

I don’t know. Why don’t you try? You may get some too...

That’s my whole point. Of course he wouldn’t. No one with a public reputation like his would be so careless. He knew exactly who he was sending them to.

 

[Habs]

Whoa.

 

[feraina]

So let's see, Safesport would issue an interim suspension if someone poses potential immediate danger to others in the absence of a suspension. That could possibly be true of Cipres, but probably not the coaches?

According to the Brennan article, Zimmerman is the one who did most of the active pressuring on the girl. I wonder what Fontana's role was. They might just move their coaching base to Italy or France. The French skaters probably wouldn't mind that much at all. The biggest fallout might be for D/F, for whom not only would it be linguistically/culturally/logistically/financially difficult to move to Europe, but since they're Americans, they'll probably get hounded by the American media to answer why they're choosing to stick with their coaches, if they choose to do so... Poor D/F, they just can't catch a break! They're finally, finally showing a glimmer of their initial promise after re-uniting with Zimmerman/Fontana, and now this happens...

Like another poster said previously, the most shocking thing is what the coaches did. It's hard to reconcile what they did (according to accusations) with their public image, especially Fontana. Or even James Cipres for that matter. He really should know better... And the coaches should know better...

 

[Ananas Astra]

I've never understood why men send around dickpics. And even to minors...this is sick.

Cipres and the coaches have to face the consequences. Others have stumbled over far less and had to pay for it.

 

[MsZem]

I've never understood why men send around dickpics. And even to minors...this is sick.

Even if only adults are involved, it seems like it would be a good idea to confirm that someone is indeed interested in a picture of your dick before sending said picture.

 

[Aerobicidal]

Ashley Wagner is brave and heroic.

I hope that the survivors are getting as much support as possible.

ETA: Tweet from Ashley, in case someone didn't already post it.

 

[wickedwitch]

Even if only adults are involved, it seems like it would be a good idea to confirm that someone is indeed interested in a picture of your dick before sending said picture.

Indeed. Sending an unwanted photo is still sexual harassment even if the recipient is an adult.

 

[Wyliefan]

Ashley Wagner is brave and heroic.

I hope that the survivors are getting as much support as possible.

Indeed she is. Bridget Namiotka, too.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

To most disturbing aspect of the story is the coaches' behavior. And the fact that their threats materialized. The girl is the one in therapy and out of the sport.

 

[Rukia]

I am shocked and appalled. Seriously, I just can't understand what any of these people were thinking. All my good thoughts go to the victim. It sounds like she has some support there. I mean someone was willing to report this to authorities thank goodness.

Everyone else deserves harsh penalties. I'm sorry for the collateral damage, but none of this should have ever happened.

 

[Polaris]

Is this why C/J sat out the Grand Prix?

 

[Polaris]

I also wonder if this is the first dick pic he's sent to a child, or if this is the first time he's committed sexual harassment.