Cipres/FFSG Press Release on the situation 12-16-2019

[Debbie S]

I just assumed it was a slow drip strategy to keep up interest and clicks.

That's not the way news orgs work, at least with breaking stories. They will print all info they have available that is cleared by Legal. Speaking generally, if a paper chooses to sit on info, there's a good chance (esp in our current social media age) that another news outlet will pick it up. No paper/news org wants to be scooped.

Kobe Bryant's case is an example of a celebrity/athlete using their popularity/money to avoid consequences (and vilify their accusers). No different from Ben Roethlisberger and any other white athletes. We might be able to add Cipres to that list, but at this point it's too soon to say.

 

[AxelAnnie]

I can't agree that Cipres did not know that it was illegal. I suspect he didn't care.

BTW for an apology to be valid it needs three parts;
1. Stop the behavior
2. Show remorse
3. Promise that it will never happen in the future.

His "apology" was anything but.

That's not the way news orgs work, at least with breaking stories. They will print all info they have available that is cleared by Legal. Speaking generally, if a paper chooses to sit on info, there's a good chance (esp in our current social media age) that another news outlet will pick it up. No paper/news org wants to be scooped.

Kobe Bryant's case is an example of a celebrity/athlete using their popularity/money to avoid consequences (and vilify their accusers). No different from Ben Roethlisberger and any other white athletes. We might be able to add Cipres to that list, but at this point it's too soon to say.

I think you are mixing apples and oranges with the Kobe Bryant. White athletes? You had to bring race in? I am thinking race had nothing to do with all this.

I understand what you say generally. But this Cipres Story was already old. Chances of someone else coming out with it were small.
I can see Brennan sitting on part of it to make the story last longer.

 

[overedge]

I think you are mixing apples and oranges with the Kobe Bryant. White athletes? You had to bring race in? I am thinking race had nothing to do with all this.

If a non-white coach or skater texted pictures of his junk to an underage white skater, the howls of outrage would be even greater, and would also be coming from people who usually wouldn't care about skating. The absence of something on the surface doesn't mean that it isn't having an effect.

I understand what you say generally. But this Cipres Story was already old. Chances of someone else coming out with it were small.
I can see Brennan sitting on part of it to make the story last longer.

The Cipres story is not old as long as it's still getting coverage and new information is emerging. And news organizations or reporters don't always know what information the competition might have, so they want to get ahead of the story - even if it turns out that they have information that no one else did.

 

[Debbie S]

I think you are mixing apples and oranges with the Kobe Bryant. White athletes? You had to bring race in? I am thinking race had nothing to do with all this.

I was responding to an earlier post that referenced race, and Kobe Bryant.

Yes, the original Cipres story was 'old', but the issue is still very much alive, and if another outlet (that covers figure skating) got hold of the 'apology', I am sure they would have printed it.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

Christine Brennan doesn't have to sit on information to prolong the story. I think she and we all know that the floodgates have barely begun to open, and there are many more reports of abuse in skating and other sports to come.

 

[Vagabond]

However, since Cipres himself has admitted to it, I hope this time there won't be people doing all sorts of mental gymnastics saying that he might have sent the picture to a minor unknowingly etc.

Apparently, people will find other ways of doing mental gymnastics when the preferred method is unavailable.

 

[Artistic Skaters]

I don't really see what difference it makes if the information about the apology was posted yesterday or two weeks ago as long as it's an accurate reporting. It's just another distraction when it comes to determining how to put reasonable processes in place to protect underage skaters. I would rather focus on those areas.

Cipres likely isn't going to face any grievances from SafeSport or USFS since I doubt he is even an associate member of the federation. Local law enforcement can choose or not to pursue whether he ought to be charged with any illegal activities. It would probably depend on the evidence available and the input of the parents since the original article said the girl wasn't cooperative.

So that leaves the three coaches whose actions need to be addressed. How their cases are handled will send a message to the coaching profession one way or the other. An interesting observation when it comes to this part of the investigation is that Vinny Dispenza is the coaching liaison for the rink's FSC. A coach who reportedly initiated the sending of lewd photos to a minor is in a leadership position to convey professional information to other coaches. The various issues surrounding the handling of things like this could certainly lead to the prevention of more occurrences and are more important to me than a Christine Brennan timeline.

 

[Prancer]

For the love of god, could we please, just once, stay on topic?

 

[Eleanor2]

In order to apologize properly and to acknowledge harming someone, one has to understand that he did something wrong and caused harm....

And this idiot, i can bet on it, does not! i can also bet that he is not aware that sending naked fotos to an under-aged person is illegal, regardless of who asked for it or if it was a joke. Or he does not think it is a big deal.

I think this guys is in a different reality, which does not make his actions any less illegal or offensive.....

I posted this before, Cipres takes nude fotos of himself for fun, and sometimes uses a fotographer who takes porno/erotic fotos of naked man. Cipres posts these fotos on line, on his IG, but at least has the sense to "crop off" them just above the genitals. He is totally into himself, thinks he is hot, enjoys the swooning from ladies and girls who post "you're hot" and "what a hunk" next to these fotos. Some of the ladies who "swoon" are well known skaters and fairly young.

Cipres shortly after the news reinstated his IG account, and the "hunk fotos" are all there (two have been cropped to look more decent).

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His girlfriend Lola Esbart is not only a pairs skater, but also a performer at Lido de Paris, where they ... hardly wear anything (just posting decent fotos).

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J0Ij3uNTYEM/hqdefault.jpg

https://static.lpnt.fr/images/2010/08/05/132611-jpg_48205_1000x667.jpg

To expect a decent apology from Cipres has to first understand that "he is hot in his own mind, and the whole world does not want to see him naked"... or at least that it is illegal.

There are people like him, unfortunately, who believe it is their right to expose their bodies to people, and they are not flashers, but people who think a) it is not a big deal, and/or b) that they are doing society a favor by eliminating inhibitions...

In our area on Castro Street in San Francisco, some years back, a group of nudists decided to "break such inhibitions" and invaded the streets and cafes. There are families with children who lived in the area, they complained.... Only to meet resistance from the nudists and some people in the community. These families where called "backwards", "freedom-killers", "conservative freaks".... But this is what these families had to see....... fotos from publications, but with nudity).

https://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/shared/npr/styles/x_large/nprshared/201806/140260114.jpg

https://www.sfexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/nowieners1003.jpg

the nudists started to protest and fight for their right to be nude... and made special efforts to exhibit themselves to these families with kids...

https://s.hdnux.com/photos/24/70/75/5476215/5/920x920.jpg

Rude and unnecessary. His girlfriend has nothing to do with this and should not be included or judged because of her job. So much for defending the right of a young girl and throw a young free woman under the bus for her choice of profession. (BTW, the Lido is a very high end renowned dance company, not some strip tease club)

 

[Vagabond]

Her name was Lola
She was a showgirl....

 

[Japanfan]

On ice, what a whirl
Her name was Lola
She was a beauty
with quite the tootie
Her name was Lola
She was a dancer
Who moved like a prancer

Can't sleep.

Carry on.

 

[bcash]

Here, Didier, let me fix it for you until an actual PR professional can step in:

The French Federation of Ice Sports (FFSG) has been made aware of the allegations aired by a journalist at the daily publication USA TODAY.

These allegations are deeply troubling. There is no place in sports for abusive behavior towards fellow athletes, especially not those who are young and vulnerable. Our obligation as a federation is to ensure a safe training and competitive environment for all our skaters. We expect the skaters and coaches affiliated with us to adhere to this standard.

We will support the investigation and trust that it is being conducted professionally and appropriately. Given the confidential nature of this process, we cannot comment at this time regarding any specific allegations.

But that would be so boring wouldn’t it?

 

[bcash]

That's more than tone-deaf - to me it reads like they know damn well he sent the pictures and they're throwing out distractions to minimize the fallout. "The reporter is a nasty gossip! The critics are just jealous! It was years ago. (But if it does blow up, we know nothing.)"

Oh of course it’s a pointed gesture. Nothing subtle about it. I was just hoping they’d come up with a subtler (and more interesting) response if they were going to “take a stand”.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Rude and unnecessary. His girlfriend has nothing to do with this and should not be included or judged because of her job. So much for defending the right of a young girl and throw a young free woman under the bus for her choice of profession. (BTW, the Lido is a very high end renowned dance company, not some strip tease club)

You misunderstood the purpose of me mentioning his girlfriend. The issue i replied to had to do with him feeling guilty and understanding his wrong doing. I am trying to figure out what the heck he was thinking. One of my theories is that he likes to take nude or provocative photos and to post them, and his girlfriend works in a burlesque where people wear very little clothes. It's a, lets call it, bohemian environment... where nudity and overt exhibition of sexuality is more common than in other environment. I don't know if i am right or wrong, i am just putting these facts as something that i've noticed and think may play a role, or not.....

In some countries in Europe people take saunas in the nude, co-ed, seeing sexual organs is not a big deal..

https://www.scandinavianaturist.org/solhejdan/sites/se.solhejdan/files/Bastu3.JPG

The Art of the Sauna

German Sauna – is everyone going to be, like…Naked?! Are men and women in the same sauna? Americans cringe at the thought. Is the some kind of perverted ritual? Reading a American woman’s review of a German hotel recently, she stated “my daughter tried to use the sauna but inside was an old...

www.bayerntrips.com

... and they also take kids with them (won't post fotos, since they are kids and naked).

i am only trying to figure out what was his intent, not mix in his girl-friend, or argue if what he did is legal or not. it's illegal in USA what he did. he was in USA - and there are laws, like them or not. But what he did is so odd, that i am want to know "why"......

 

[bladesofgorey]

Yeah, and in art classes young adults still draw nude models...
So what.
That has nothing to do with what Cipres did.
Rather than trying to explain this as some larger cultural war battle of liberalism gone amuck or the decay of family values or hedonistic leftness there's a really obvious reason why some dudes send dick pics to, and/or (esp. before cell phones) flash underage girls and boys:
It's simple. They get a thrill from the transgression and they especially enjoy it if there's a power imbalance or if their target is shocked/upset/surprised/horrified/humiliated. Why is this case likely to be any different?

 

[Eleanor2]

You misunderstood the purpose of me mentioning his girlfriend. The issue i replied to had to do with him feeling guilty and understanding his wrong doing. I am trying to figure out what the heck he was thinking. One of my theories is that he likes to take nude or provocative photos and to post them, and his girlfriend works in a burlesque where people wear very little clothes. It's a, lets call it, bohemian environment... where nudity and overt exhibition of sexuality is more common than in other environment. I don't know if i am right or wrong, i am just putting these facts as something that i've noticed and think may play a role, or not.....

In some countries in Europe people take saunas in the nude, co-ed, seeing sexual organs is not a big deal..

https://www.scandinavianaturist.org/solhejdan/sites/se.solhejdan/files/Bastu3.JPG

The Art of the Sauna

German Sauna – is everyone going to be, like…Naked?! Are men and women in the same sauna? Americans cringe at the thought. Is the some kind of perverted ritual? Reading a American woman’s review of a German hotel recently, she stated “my daughter tried to use the sauna but inside was an old...

www.bayerntrips.com

... and they also take kids with them (won't post fotos, since they are kids and naked).

i am only trying to figure out what was his intent, not mix in his girl-friend, or argue if what he did is legal or not. it's illegal in USA what he did. he was in USA - and there are laws, like them or not. But what he did is so odd, that i am want to know "why"......

What if his girldfriend was a physician ? Would she be more respectable ? Would you have talked about her ? Is she the guarantee of the good moral and value of the household ? There is ZERO reason to talk about her and throw her name and her job in the discussion. She is not some tools to prove Morgan's depravity in every aspect of his life. Just like his nudes.

There is a difference between exposing yourself for a photoshoot, a show or a performance (like Daniel Radcliffe some years ago or any ballet company dancing le Sacre du Printemps) and sending pics to a minor. One considers the body as a tool to do Art. The other is a deviant behavior. One of perfectly fine, the other is not. Nudity is neither dirty not shameful. What matters is YOUR intention and what you do with that nudity.

Yeah, and in art classes young adults still draw nude models...
So what.
That has nothing to do with what Cipres did.
Rather than trying to explain this as some larger cultural war battle of liberalism gone amuck or the decay of family values or hedonistic leftness there's a really obvious reason why some dudes send dick pics to, and/or (esp. before cell phones) flash underage girls and boys:
It's simple. They get a thrill from the transgression and they especially enjoy it if there's a power imbalance or if their target is shocked/upset/surprised/horrified/humiliated. Why is this case likely to be any different?

Perfect post.

 

[Japanfan]

What if his girldfriend was a physician ? Would she be more respectable ? Would you have talked about her ? Is she the guarantee of the good moral and value of the household ? There is ZERO reason to talk about her and throw her name and her job in the discussion. She is not some tools to prove Morgan's depravity in every aspect of his life. Just like his nudes.

In defense of @TinamiAmori, her point was about Morgan, not the girlfriend. I don't think Tinami intended whatsoever to say that his girlfriend was depraved. She is generally supportive of people's freedom to engage in various non-illegal practices that some might take offense at.

There is a difference between exposing yourself for a photoshoot, a show or a performance (like Daniel Radcliffe some years ago or any ballet company dancing le Sacre du Printemps) and sending pics to a minor. One considers the body as a tool to do Art. The other is a deviant behavior. One of perfectly fine, the other is not. Nudity is neither dirty not shameful. What matters is YOUR intention and what you do with that nudity.

I don't think Tinami intended to say otherwise. She was pointing to another indication of Cipres' fondness for nudity - which she also demonstrated in the nude photos he posted on a Russian website.

Goodness knows very many men watch pictures of live women nude or 'exotic' shows everyday ( someone please tell me that this habit is not so common as it once was). However, such tendencies become really problematic when minors are involved.

 

[Frau Muller]

In defense of @TinamiAmori, her point was about Morgan, not the girlfriend. I don't think Tinami intended whatsoever to say that his girlfriend was depraved. She is generally supportive of people's freedom to engage in various non-illegal practices that some might take offense at.



I don't think Tinami intended to say otherwise. She was pointing to another indication of Cipres' fondness for nudity - which she also demonstrated in the nude photos he posted on a Russian website.

Goodness knows very many men watch pictures of live women nude or 'exotic' shows everyday ( someone please tell me that this habit is not so common as it once was). However, such tendencies become really problematic when minors are involved.

Right. I don’t think that it’s even a matter of nude photos being artistic vs porny. To me, it’s about an egomaniatical &/or narcissistic character that would post such photos, artistic or otherwise. A certain degree of ego is needed to be a performer, I realize but...

 

[puglover]

I can not think of any excuse, justification, explanation that allows a grown man to send a picture or expose his genitals in any way to a 13 year old girl. Any 13 year old girl! Maybe some countries, cultures, legal systems view it more seriously than others but certainly a man of any significant maturity and life experience has to know this is wrong on many levels - IMO. I hope he does suffer some serious repercussions and is not protected by his fame, federation or whatever.

 

[PairSkater12345]

I'm wondering if Zimmerman show's up at nationals. His presence will no doubt be a disruption.

 

[LarrySK8]

Does Morgan need to be taught the Zagitova Rule?

 

[Tinami Amori]

Does Morgan need to be taught the Zagitova Rule?

He can't do half of her triples, let alone in the 2nd half.....

 

[Miezekatze]

In Germany it's usually not allowed to wear clothes in saunas for hygienic reasons (at least it would breach the bath and sauna rules). Still people will usually wear towels in public mixed saunas.

That doesn't mean anyone would think it's culturally or legally acceptable to send dick pics to minors

Tinamis conclusions as often are bizarre.

Sharing as many pics of your naked six pack on Instagram is allowed (also in the US I assume) and working at Lido is as well, there's tons of people on insta who like to show off their six packs and still would know they can't send nude stuff to minors or strangers.

 

[aemeraldrainc]

In Germany it's usually not allowed to wear clothes in saunas for hygienic reasons (at least it would breach the bath and sauna rules). Still people will usually wear towels in public mixed saunas.

That doesn't mean anyone would think it's culturally or legally acceptable to send dick pics to minors

Tinamis conclusions as often are bizarre.

Sharing as many pics of your naked six pack on Instagram is allowed (also in the US I assume) and working at Lido is as well, there's tons of people on insta who like to show off their six packs and still would know they can't send nude stuff to minors or strangers.

I don’t think Tinami means to say that it’s acceptable to send dick pics. I think she means that a certain mindset and culture(showing off your body with semi nude pics in Insta for example) would make it SEEM like it’s ok to send dick pics to minors to certain people (i.e. Morgan C.)

Don’t mean to put words in anyone’s mouth. Just saying my impression.

 

[maxb]

I know it's probably the right thing to do. But how is she going to tell him she doesnt believe him (assuming her lack of knowledge]. Hes her partner and she dated him at some point. I imagine it would be very hard for her not to support him.

She's defended him on instagram

 

[puglover]

I think we sometimes use words like "support" and even "mistake" wrong. Often we hear "we all make mistakes" to excuse immoral, illegal acts that are hugely damaging to others as if it is just part of the human learning process we all go through. We also can find ways to be "supportive" of a family member, friend, etc. who has done wrong without showing a lack of empathy for their victim, trivializing what they have done, and in general "standing by them" in any way that appears to condone their behavior.

 

[VGThuy]

People who send sexually explicit material to minors often come from non-laissez faire communities and often seem just as average as any next door neighbor in middle America. Many of them espouse having middle class virtues with “regular” jobs. So obviously, there’s a lot more to why Morgan shared a picture of his penis with the probable or possible intention of having sex with a thirteen year old girl than the fact that he’s proud of his body and likes to show it off. Maybe there is something to say about Morgan getting coddled and having such a huge ego that he thought he could get away with it, but that’s pretty common as we’ve seen with men who aren’t as proud of their bodies and who don’t show it off as much.

 

[overedge]

Maybe there is something to say about Morgan getting coddled and having such a huge ego that he thought he could get away with it.

If he posts pictures on (public) Instagram showing his tattoo "down there", without his shirt, etc. etc. and doesn't get banned, and gets positive feedback from his followers, he probably doesn't have a lot of boundaries as to what he sends privately either.

 

[Katta]

In Germany it's usually not allowed to wear clothes in saunas for hygienic reasons (at least it would breach the bath and sauna rules). Still people will usually wear towels in public mixed saunas.

That doesn't mean anyone would think it's culturally or legally acceptable to send dick pics to minors

The same in Sweden. It's still difficult for my hubby to accept when the whole family (sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews) even after 30+ years....

 

[tony]

If he posts pictures on (public) Instagram showing his tattoo "down there", without his shirt, etc. etc. and doesn't get banned, and gets positive feedback from his followers, he probably doesn't have a lot of boundaries as to what he sends privately either.

His tattoo ‘down there’ as far as I’m guessing you’re referring to is the one right on his V- which anyone would see at the beach, in the locker room at a gym, with his shirt off walking down the street or whatever. His Instagram/model photo selection is absolutely tame. He’s not going to get banned for posting a shirtless photo.

The correlation here is a bit silly.