Have there been any threats to skating judges lately?

[tylersf]

In 2002, US skating judge, Sharon Rogers received death threats and Galit Chait's (Israeli ice dancer) father threatened a coach and some other skaters.

Here is another link about this.

I know that there are passionate fans, skaters and coaches out there and emotions run high during the Olympics. Are reports of threats to coaches or skaters in recent months?

 

[skatingguy]

I haven't seen anything recently, though if it does happen it will probably be related to something that happens at the Olympics. It's the highest profile event and the one where unusual results can create an atmosphere in which threats are uttered. I know the ladies event in 2014 created a lot of controversy, particularly in Korea, and I believe some threats were made towards Sotnikova but I can't find an article discussing at this time.

 

[tylersf]

I'm only saying this because I have seen some particularly violent reactions from fans over certain skaters. If some of these fans had the resources, I could see them going out to threaten or kill coaches, skaters and judges if their favorite skaters didn't make the Olympic team or the podium.

I haven't seen anything recently, though if it does happen it will probably be related to something that happens at the Olympics. It's the highest profile event and the one where unusual results can create an atmosphere in which threats are uttered. I know the ladies event in 2014 created a lot of controversy, particularly in Korea, and I believe some threats were made towards Sotnikova but I can't find an article discussing at this time.

 

[skatingguy]

I'm only saying this because I have seen some particularly violent reactions from fans over certain skaters. If some of these fans had the resources, I could see them going out to threaten or kill coaches, skaters and judges if their favorite skaters didn't make the Olympic team or the podium.

In some respects it's kind of surprising that we don't hear about these things more often given, as you say, the reaction and fanaticism of some fans. Maybe it does and the threats are not made public. Given that so many of the skaters are available to fans in ways that they were not in previous times, thanks to social media, it seems that instead of having to issue anonymous threats people can, instead, harass skaters directly online. I'm thinking of Gracie Gold's twitter account being hijacked a few weeks ago, and the reaction that some had to things that Courtney Hicks apparently liked/retweeted.

As a tennis fan I've seen some of the comments aimed at players after they've lost matches. These comments usually come from professional gamblers, and for example, Canadian player Rebecca Marino felt she needed to leave the sport several years ago because of the harassment she faced on social media.
Madison Keys Instagram account - https://www.instagram.com/p/BLTC1U_Dmo0/

 

[misskarne]

Didn't Phil Hersh write in one of his recent articles that David Molina had been threatened on social media by the V/M psychos?

 

[skatingguy]

Didn't Phil Hersh write in one of his recent articles that David Molina had been threatened on social media by the V/M psychos?

Yup

The debate over which team is better already has been heated to the level of vitriol by anonymous, gutless social media trolls. A French dance judge, David Molina, felt threatened enough by tweets directed at him that he reported them to the police in Paris, according to a story in Le Parisien. In an email to me, Molina declined comment.
http://www.globetrottingbyphilipher...ung-woman-vibrant-in-red-catches-judges-fancy

 

[skatingguy]

Not sure if these are the tweets that Mr. Molina reported to the police. They seem borderline but certainly could be interpreted as threats.
https://twitter.com/lisamarieLML/status/929117543419301888
https://twitter.com/Lookiecookie2/status/928509385189548032
https://twitter.com/Lookiecookie2/status/927964550011473920
https://twitter.com/Lookiecookie2/status/927964426166259713

 

[tylersf]

Very true. I'm very afraid to disagree with some of the posters in this room, because I'm sure I would receive similar or worse threats as well. Right around the Olympics, skating fans who are normally even-keeled will become unhinged and violent.

Didn't Phil Hersh write in one of his recent articles that David Molina had been threatened on social media by the V/M psychos?

 

[overedge]

It could well be that there have been threats, but they haven’t been publicized for security reasons.

 

[avivadawn]

Being a fan is one thing...this isn't fandom, it's beyond scary.

Keep calm and skate on, I say.

 

[Deleted member 40371]

Yup

The debate over which team is better already has been heated to the level of vitriol by anonymous, gutless social media trolls. A French dance judge, David Molina, felt threatened enough by tweets directed at him that he reported them to the police in Paris, according to a story in Le Parisien. In an email to me, Molina declined comment.
http://www.globetrottingbyphilipher...ung-woman-vibrant-in-red-catches-judges-fancy

So, are you Phil Hersh?

 

[chantilly]

I would hardly call those tweets above even borderline or to be construed as threats except maybe the first one. And even that's what I call stretching.

 

[skatfan]

This isn't about a judge, but I noticed that at practice today, Nathan was escorted past the fans in the bleachers to the locker room. No one else had anything like that, so I wondered if some fan is stalking him.

 

[skateboy]

I don't know about death threats to judges, but I heard that Sotnikova received a number of death threats from crazed Yuna fans after Sochi.

There is an psychotic, obsessed Yunabot that still posts videos on YouTube once or twice a week, bashing Sotnikova and now Medvedeva, because she's had the audacity to beat Yuna's world record scores. And this crazy poster has a fairly large following. These people have said horrific things about Med, to the point where I'm a bit concerned for her safety while she's in Pyeongchang.

 

[misskarne]

This isn't about a judge, but I noticed that at practice today, Nathan was escorted past the fans in the bleachers to the locker room. No one else had anything like that, so I wondered if some fan is stalking him.

It's possible. Both Max and Jason have had them, too.

I don't know about death threats to judges, but I heard that Sotnikova received a number of death threats from crazed Yuna fans after Sochi.

She still cops some pretty nasty abuse on social media even now. It's insane.

 

[Anyasnake]

I would hardly call those tweets above even borderline or to be construed as threats except maybe the first one. And even that's what I call stretching.

Those tweets are what we saw. I'm wondering what's actually in his DM box which must have been much fuller.

 

[chantilly]

^ wasn't sure if those were the tweets or not.

 

[Lacey]

This isn't about a judge, but I noticed that at practice today, Nathan was escorted past the fans in the bleachers to the locker room. No one else had anything like that, so I wondered if some fan is stalking him.

Hello, Nancy and Tonya and Tonya's crew?

 

[misskarne]

Those tweets are what we saw. I'm wondering what's actually in his DM box which must have been much fuller.

And what's been deleted, as well.

 

[skatingguy]

So, are you Phil Hersh?

I don't think so, but it could an Outer Limits episode I haven't seen.

Please stand by.